GIFT  OF 


THE    TEMPLE 


THE  TEMPLE 

A   BOOK   OF   PRAYERS 


BY   THE   REV. 

W.  E.  ORCHARD,  D.D. 
n 


NEW  YORK:   E.  P.  BUTTON  &  CO. 
LONDON :   J.  M.  DENT  d-  SONS,  LTD. 

MCMXIV 


OS 


All  rights  reserved. 


\ 


DEDICATED 

TO    ALL   THOSE 

WHO,    WEARY    OF    FRUITLESS   QUEST 

AND    ENDLESS    ARGUMENT, 

ARE   WILLING   TO   TRY 

THE    WAY   OF  PRAYER 


304146 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

THE   OUTER  GATE I 

THE  INNER  COURT 27 

THE  EVENING  SACRIFICE       ....  87 

THE   ALTAR   OF   INCENSE        ....  107 

THE   HOLY   PLACE 141 


VII 


THE   OUTER  GATE 


The  good  Lord  pardon  every  one 
that  setteth  his  whole  heart  to  seek  God, 

though  he  be  not  cleansed 
according  to  the  purification  of  the  sanctuary. 
— 2  Chronicles  xxx.  18,  19, 


THE   OUTER 'GATE 


CTERNAL    Father,    Quest    of    ages,    long  Long 
^    sought,  oft  doubted  or  forsook  ;  can  it  be  so 
that  Thou  art  known  to  us,  the  Law  within  our  ^ 
minds,  the  Life  of  every  breath  we  draw,  the  within. 
Love  that  yearneth  in  our  hearts  ?     Art  Thou 
the  Spirit    who  oft  hast   striven   with  us,   and 
whom  we  greatly  feared,  lest  yielding  to   His 
strong  embrace  we  should  become  more  than  we 
dared  to  be  ? 

An  impulse  toward  forgiveness  has  sometimes 
stirred  within  us,  we  have  felt  moved  to  show 
mercy,  the  sacrificial  life  has  touched  our  aspira- 
tion ;  but  we  were  unprepared  to  pay  the  price. 
Was  this  Thyself,  and  have  we  turned  from  Thee  ? 
Something  like  this  we  must  have  done,  so 
barren,  joyless  and  so  dead  has  life  become. 
Canst  Thou  not  visit  us  again  ? 

We  hush  our  thoughts  to  silence,  we  school 
our  spirits  in  sincerity,  and  here  we  wait.  O 
may  we  not  feel  once  more  the  light  upon  our 
straining  eyes,  the  tides  of  life  rise  again  within 
our  waiting  hearts  ? 

We  never  looked  to  meet  Thee  in  the  stress  of 
thought,  the  toil  of  life,  or  in  the  call  of  duty  ; 
we  only  knew  that  somehow  life  had  lost  for  us 
all  meaning,  dignity  and  beauty.  How  then 
shall  we  turn  back  again  and  see  with  eyes  that 
fear  has  filmed  ?  How  can  we  be  born  again, 
now  grown  so  old  in  fatal  habit  ? 

If  we  could  see  this  life  of  ours  lived  out  in 


THE   TEMPLE 


Thee,  its  common  days  exalted,  its  circumstances 
made  a  throne,  its  bitterness,  disappointment  and 
failure  all  redeemed,  then  our  hearts  might  stir 
again,  and  these  trembling  hands  lay  hold  on  life 
for  evermore.  Amen. 


THE   OUTER'  GATE 


OGOD,  Immortal  and  Invisible,  forgive  the  Having 
faltering  faith  of  those  whose  dwelling  is  e?es 

i  i        j    i_  TUT  &       see  not. 

among  the  mortal  and  the  seen.     We  have  no 

sight  for  unseen  things,  and  we  may  have  missed 
Thee  at  every  turn.  Every  common  bush  may 
flame  with  fire,  but  we  have  no  time  to  turn 
aside,  and  our  hardened  feet  do  not  apprehend 
the  holy  ground.  The  heavens  may  declare  Thy 
glory,  but  our  eyes  are  too  earthbeund  to  read 
their  story  of  infinity  and  peace.  Day  unto  day 
may  utter  speech,  but  our  ears  are  deaf  with 
inward  strife,  and  we  hearken  not  nor  under- 
stand. We  have  brooded  long  on  the  pain  and 
anguish  of  the  world,  but  we  can  read  no 
redemption  in  the  cross  to  which  humanity  is 
nailed  ;  we  have  looked  into  the  faces  of  our 
fellows,  but  discern  no  divine  impression  there  ; 
we  have  found  little  to  love  in  the  brother 
whom  we  have  seen,  how  can  we  hope  to  love 
the  God  whom  we  have  not  seen  ?  And  now 
the  awful  fear  has  crept  upon  us  that  we  are 
blind. 

O  Lord,  that  we  might  receive  our  sight. 
Amen. 


THE  TEMPLE 


The  ^\  THOU  whom  no  man  hath  seen  nor  can 

bonds  of     Vy    see)  the  invisible  cause  of  all  that  is  visible, 

the  reality  beyond  all  appearance  ;  how  can  we 

who    are    bound    by   sensuous    things    discern 

Thee  ? 

The  cares  of  the  world,  its  insensate  riches, 
its  false  standards  have  enslaved  our  souls,  until 
the  things  that  are  seen  have  become  our  all. 

Forgive  us,  O  Unseen  Spirit,  if  we  have  missed 
Thee  and  forgotten  Thee.  How  shall  we  seek 
for  Thee  for  whom  our  spirits  yearn  ?  For  the 
things  we  see  and  feel  only  wake  desires  for 
something  they  are  not.  Shall  we  fast  and  pray, 
shall  we  separate  ourselves  from  the  world  that 
is  too  much  with  us,  shall  we  seek  some  quiet 
cloister  of  the  soul  ? 

Nay  come  to  us,  O  Blessed,  for  we  cannot 
come  to  Thee.  Come  to  us  in  the  life  that 
entangles  us,  meet  us  in  the  common  ways 
trodden  by  our  busy  feet,  make  Thy  highways 
through  the  avenues  of  sense,  clothe  Thy  glory 
in  our  failing  flesh,  breathe  through  the  things 
that  are  seen  the  peace  of  the  unseen  and 
eternal.  Amen. 


THE  OUTER   GATE 


GOD,  we  turn  to  Thee  in  the  faith  that  He  is  the 
Thou  dost  understand  and  art  very  merciful.  mf  f^  *or 

0  C  '  rfim  ,    Which 

Some  of  us  are  not  sure  concerning   Thee  ;  not  every 
sure  what  Thou  art  ;    not  sure  that  Thou  art  soul  tra^ 
at  all.     Yet  there  is  something  at  work  behind  v*ileth. 
our  minds,  in  times  of  stillness  we  hear  it,  like 
a  distant  song  ;  there  is  something  in  the  sky  at 
evening-time  ;   something  in  the   face  of  man. 
We   feel  that   round   our   incompleteness  flows 
Thy  greatness,  round  our  restlessness  Thy  rest. 
Yet  this  is  not  enough. 

We  want  a  heart  to  speak  to,  a  heart  that 
understands ;  a  friend  to  whom  we  can  turn, 
a  breast  on  which  we  may  lean.  O  that  we 
could  find  Thee.  Yet  could  we  ever  think 
these  things  unless  Thou  hadst  inspired  us, 
could  we  ever  want  these  things  unless  Thou 
Thyself  wert  very  near  ? 

Some  of  us  know  full  well ;  but  we  are  sore 
afraid.  We  dare  not  yield  ourselves  to  Thee, 
for  we  fear  what  that  might  mean.  Our  foolish 
freedom,  our  feeble  pleasures,  our  fatal  self- 
indulgence  suffice  to  hold  us  back  from  Thee, 
though  Thou  art  our  very  life,  and  we  so  sick 
and  needing  Thee.  Our  freedom  has  proved 
false,  our  pleasures  have  long  since  lost  their  zest, 
our  sins,  oh  how  we  hate  them. 

Come  and  deliver  us,  for  we  have  lost  all 
hope  in  ourselves.  Amen. 


THE   TEMPLE 


FATHER,  we  turn  to  Thee  because  we 
are  sore  vexed  with  our  own  thoughts. 
Our  minds  plague  us  with  questionings  we 
cannot  answer ;  we  are  driven  to  voyage  on 
strange  seas  of  thought  alone.  Dost  Thou  dis- 
turb our  minds  with  endless  questioning,  yet 
keep  the  answers  hidden  in  Thy  heart,  so  that 
away  from  Thee  we  should  always  be  perplexed, 
and  by  thoughts  derived  from  Thee  be  ever 
drawn  to  Thee  ?  Surely,  our  God,  it  must 
be  so. 

But  still  more  bitter  and  humbling,  O  Father, 
is  our  experience  of  failure,  so  frequent,  tragic 
and  unpardonable.  We  have  struggled  on  in 
vain,  resolves  are  broken  ere  they  pass  our  lips  ; 
we  can  see  no  hope  of  better  things,  we  can 
never  forgive  ourselves  ;  and  after  all  our  prayers 
our  need  remains  and  our  sense  of  coming  short 
but  deepens.  Yet,  at  least  we  know  that  we 
have  failed,  and  how,  if  something  higher  than 
ourselves  were  not  at  work  within  ? 

Our  desperate  desires  have  driven  us  at  last  to 
Thee,  conscious  now,  after  all  vain  effort,  that 
it  is  Thyself  alone  can  satisfy,  and  now  at  peace 
to  know  that  Thou  it  is  who  art  desired, 
because  Thou  it  is  who  dost  desire  within  us. 
Beyond  our  need  reveal  Thyself,  its  cause  and 
cure  ;  in  all  desire  teach  us  to  discern  Thy 
drawing  near.  Amen. 


THE   OUTER   GATE 


OGOD,  Holy  above  all  thought,  Holy  past  The  price 
all  vision,  Holy  beyond  all  bearing  ;  how  of  vision* 
can  we  ask  to  look  upon  Thy  face,  how  could 
we  stand  in  Thy  presence,  how  shall  we  abide 
the  very  thought  of  Thee  ?  Yet  none  can 
escape  Thee,  none  shut  Thee  out,  none  live 
apart  from  Thee.  Only  our  blindness  hides 
Thee  from  us,  only  our  dullness  passes  Thee  by, 
only  our  forgetfulness  keeps  Thee  out  of  mind. 
Unheeding  we  climb  the  mount  where  Thy 
voice  is  uttered  in  thunder  and  Thy  glance 
smites  like  lightning  ;  none  of  us  takes  off  his 
shoes,  and  none  makes  haste  to  veil  his  face. 
At  the  foot  of  a  sorrowful  cross  we  sit  down  to 
play  ;  we  heed  no  breaking  heart,  we  feel  no 
drops  of  blood,  we  lift  our  eyes  only  to  mock 
and  rail.  We  stand  before  the  judgment  seat, 
the  books  are  opened,  the  truth  shines  clear,  an 
awful  hand  divides  us  on  the  right  and  on  the 
left ;  yet  still  we  clasp  our  filthy  rags  about  us, 
and  make  excuses  to  disguise  our  sins. 

Dare  we  pray  that  our  eyes  should  be 
opened  ?  Should  we  not  be  overwhelmed  with 
fear,  smitten  with  sorrow,  humbled  to  the  break- 
ing of  our  hearts  ? 

Yet  better  far,  O  God,  better  far. 
Amen. 


THE  TEMPLE 


We  look     S~\  GOD,  who  dwellest  in  light  unapproach- 

buVbe^'  able  and  ful1  of  £loi7>  wh7  dwe11  we  in 

hold  darkness  and  in  the  shadow  of  death  ?  The 
darkness*  shadows  of  night  which  so  quickly  veil  the 
glory  of  the  day  are  not  so  heavy  as  those  that 
rest  upon  our  hearts.  We  are  here  for  a 
moment,  like  a  bird  that  flashes  from  the  dark- 
ness, through  the  light,  back  to  darkness  once 
again.  And  even  here  as  we  pause  awhile  the 
shadows  creep  upon  us.  They  rest  upon  those 
we  love  :  they  rest  upon  those  into  whose  eyes 
we  look  :  they  rest  upon  ourselves.  We  cannot 
understand  the  brevity  of  life  ;  we  are  just  learn- 
ing how  to  work,  just  catching  some  glimpse  of 
its  meaning ;  a  sudden  call,  and  we  are  gone. 
We  cannot  understand  why  such  pain  of  body, 
heart,  and  mind,  should  sadden  every  day.  We 
cannot  understand  why  we  should  bring  upon 
ourselves  such  misery,  make  such  tragic  failures 
of  our  life,  or  suffer  such  eternal  loss. 

Is  it,  O  Father,  that  we  see  these  shadows, 
because  the  Dayspring  from  on  high  hath  visited 
us  ;  that  these  pains  are  the  feeling  of  those 
who  wake  from  the  stupor  of  death  ;  that  the 
darkness  broods  upon  our  hearts  because  we 
have  turned  our  backs  to  Thee  and  hidden 
ourselves  from  Thy  light  ? 

Give  us  the  grace,  the  daring,  the  desire  to 
turn  again  that  we  may  see  Thy  face.  Amen. 

10 


THE   OUTER   GATE 


OGOD,  who  hast  formed  all  hearts  to  love  Thou 
Thee,  made  all  ways  to  lead  to  Thy  face,  £°"n 
created  all  desire  to  be  unsatisfied  save  in  Thee  ;  Thou 
with  great  compassion  look  upon  us   gathered  mayest 
here.     Our  presence  is  our  prayer,  our  need  the 
only  plea  we  dare  to  claim,  Thy  purposes  the 
one  assurance  we  possess. 

Some  of  us  are  very  confused  ;  we  do  not 
know  why  we  were  ever  born,  for  what  end 
we  should  live,  which  way  we  should  take. 
But  we  are  willing  to  be  guided.  Take  our 
trembling  hands  in  Thine,  and  lead  us  on. 

Some  of  us  are  sore  within.  We  long  for 
love  and  friendship,  but  we  care  for  no  one  and 
we  feel  that  no  one  cares  for  us.  We  are  mis- 
understood, we  are  lonely,  we  have  been  disap- 
pointed, we  have  lost  our  faith  in  man  and  our 
faith  in  life.  Wilt  Thou  not  let  us  love  Thee 
who  first  loved  us  ? 

Some  of  us  are  vexed  with  passions  that 
affright  us  ;  to  yield  to  them  would  mean  dis- 
aster, to  restrain  them  is  beyond  our  power,  and 
nothing  earth  contains  exhausts  their  vehemence 
or  satisfies  their  fierce  desire. 

And  so  because  there  is  no  answer,  no  end  or 
satisfaction  in  ourselves ;  and  because  we  are 
what  we  are,  and  yet  long  to  be  so  different ; 
we  believe  Thou  art,  and  that  Thou  dost  under- 
stand us.  By  faith  we  feel  after  Thee,  through 
love  we  find  the  way,  in  hope  we  bring  ourselves 
to  Thee.  Amen. 

ii 


THE  TEMPLE 


I  called,  S~\  GOD,  we  have  heard  Thy  call  sounding 
but  ye  V_y  jn  our  ears  .  jn  yOuth  and  in  a£e,  in  sick- 
answered  j.  •  1  V  •  •  J  •  ' 

non  ness  and  in  health,  in  joy  and  m  sorrow,  at 

morning  and  at  eventide  ;  in  the  voice  of  nature, 
from  the  page  of  history,  leaping  from  the  lips 
of  men,  stirring  in  our  own  thoughts,  crying 
from  our  poor  desolate  hearts.  Yet  we  have 
not  yielded  ourselves  to  Thee. 

We  have  been  afraid  lest  we  should  lose 
something  dear  to  us  ;  our  comfort,  our  content, 
our  pleasure.  Yet  refusing  we  have  lost  our 
all,  love  and  light  and  life  itself. 

We  have  been  afraid  lest  we  should  lose  our- 
selves in  Thy  being,  lest  the  direction  of  our 
lives  should  be  wrested  from  our  hands,  lest  our 
wills  should  become  as  not  our  own.  And  now 
our  wills  are  broken,  we  cannot  direct  our  lives 
even  where  we  would,  and  our  very  souls  within 
are  hard  to  find. 

We  have  been  afraid  of  the  burden  of  Thy 
love.  It  seemed  too  hard  to  care  for  those  we 
find  it  easier  far  to  hate,  to  love  those  from 
whom  our  natures  shrink,  to  break  our  heart 
over  those  who  seem  worthless,  to  spend  our 
life  for  those  who  are  hopeless.  And  now 
we  are  enslaved  to  self;  we  move  among  our 
fellows  alien,  afraid  and  lonely  ;  we  are  weary 
of  our  carefulness  and  calculating  ways. 

O  save  us.  Make  us  willing  to  be  what  we 
were  meant  to  be.  Give  us  the  courage  to  forsake 
all  and  yield  to  Thee,  ere  it  be  too  late.  Amen. 
12 


THE   OUTER   GATE 


O    FATHER,    who    hast    set    us    amid    the  The 
bonds  of  time  ;  this  hurrying  pace  of  life  ^J 
frightens  and   amazes  us.     We    cannot   crowd  our  moix 
our  purposes    into  such  a  narrow   space.     Ere  tality. 
ever  the  day  has  worn  to  noon,  or  we  have  even 
planned  the  work  we   meant  to  do,  the  night 
comes  down  upon  us  and  we  can  work  no  more. 
The  swift  years  pass  and  find  us  little  farther 
on.     We  wake  to  mourn  what  we  have  missed, 
to  value  most  what  comes  no  more. 

Forgive  our  waste  of  precious  moments,  our 
loitering  feet,  our  procrastinating  will.  O  teach 
us  to  number  our  days,  that  we  may  apply  our 
hearts  to  wisdom  ;  to  lengthen  our  brief  life  by 
intensity  of  living ;  to  fill  swift  hours  with 
mighty  deeds  ;  to  lay  up  treasure  where  neither 
moth  nor  rust  doth  corrupt. 

Seeing  we  spend  our  days  as  a  tale  that  is 
told,  let  us  haste  to  speak  that  which  is  within 
us,  lest  we  be  called  away  before  the  story  is 
begun.  If  there  is  anything  Thou  hast  meant 
us  to  do  in  life,  O  spare  us  till  we  have  accom- 
plished it.  If  there  is  any  kindness  we  can 
shew,  may  we  not  neglect  or  defer  it,  seeing 
that  we  pass  this  way  but  once. 

So  may  the  very  stress  of  earthly  life  educate 
us  for  the  life  eternal.  Amen. 


THE  TEMPLE 


THOU  Desire  of  nations,  by  whom  the 
prophets  spake,  of  whom  the  poets  dream, 
for  whom  the  people  long  ;  when  wilt  Thou 
dawn  upon  our  waiting  vision  ?  Age  after  age 
the  heavens  are  scanned  for  the  sign  of  Thine 
appearing.  We  watch  for  Thee  more  than 
they  that  watch  for  the  morning.  Yet  all 
things  continue  as  they  have  been  from  the 
beginning.  Man  labours  still  for  wrong,  sees 
the  fruit  of  honest  toil  torn  from  him,  and 
mingles  tears  with  hopeless  tasks.  Still  men  sell 
their  souls  for  a  price  and  women  are  forced  to 
a  traffic  of  shame.  The  poor  cry  for  bread  and 
are  offered  a  stone.  Not  yet  do  we  see  the 
mighty  cast  down  from  their  seat ;  not  yet  hast 
Thou  exalted  the  humble  and  meek  ;  the  race 
is  still  to  the  swift  and  the  battle  to  the  strong. 
Where  is  the  promise  of  Thy  coming  ? 

Forgive  the  impatience,  O  our  God,  that 
would  fling  itself  upon  Thy  slowly  turning 
chariot  wheels.  Thou  Thyself  hast  bid  us 
watch  and  pray  for  the  coming  of  Thy  kingdom. 
The  promise  was  it  should  be  soon. 

Perhaps  Thou  hast  come,  and  the  earth  has 
rejected  Thee  ;  come  like  a  thief  in  the  night — 
and  gone  ;  come  disguised  as  a  child  seeking 
love,  a  woman  seeking  justice,  a  man  seeking 
souls,  and  we  found  no  room  for  Thee.  Then, 
O  come  back  to  us  again. 

Or  dost  Thou  wait  till  we  are  ready  ?  Dost 
14 


THE   OUTER   GATE 


Thou  tarry  till  we  turn  from  the  trifles  that  now 
hold  our  hearts  ?  Must  we  ourselves  prepare 
the  way  ? 

O  help  us  to  understand. 
Amen. 


THE   TEMPLE 


Hope          ALMIGHTY    God,    who    sustainest    man's 
eternal  spirit  by  an  undying  hope,  hast  taught  us 

to  look  for  a  perfect  revelation  of  Thyself,  and 
bade  us  watch  for  Thy  coming  ;  be  patient  with 
our  impatience  when  we  cry  in  bitterness,  How 
long  ?  when  in  doubt  and  desolation  we  faint 
for  a  glimpse  of  Thy  face.  The  heavens  keep 
their  dreadful  order,  the  silence  of  the  infinite 
spaces  terrifies  our  minds ;  on  earth  tyranny, 
evil,  poverty  and  sin  retain  their  ancient  power. 
Generations  suffer,  toil  and  pass  away  uncom- 
forted  and  hopeless.  The  same  veil  of  mystery 
hides  the  truth  and  all  man's  learning  leaves  him 
still  unsure. 

Are  we  in  Thy  presence  and  know  it  not ; 
has  the  judgment  commenced  though  we  go 
about  our  careless  ways  ?  We  fear  a  future 
hell,  while  already  flames  the  quenchless  fire, 
and  the  worm  that  dies  not  feeds  upon  our 
flesh.  We  look  for  a  distant  heaven,  while  it  is 
all  around  us,  if  we  care  to  walk  its  streets. 
The  stones  of  the  new  Jerusalem  lie  ready  to 
our  hands,  but  we  have  rejected  the  chief  corner 
stone. 

Then  let  knowledge  grow,  the  light  dawn, 
and  our  eyes  waken  to  reality.  Or  if  we  still 
must  wait  Thy  time,  then,  though  faith  and  love 
both  die  within  the  heart  of  man,  let  not  hope 
depart,  lest  we  sink  in  sight  of  port  and  lose  our 
way  with  the  city  clear  before  us.  Amen, 
16 


THE  OUTER   GATE 


OUT  of  the  depths  have  we  cried  unto  Thee,  Deep 
O  God  ;  O  God  hear  our  prayer.  Our 
desperate  need  of  Thee  is  mocked  by  our  faint 
and  feeble  petitions.  Hearken  not  to  the  words 
of  our  lips  disciplined  by  such  fatal  habit  to  con- 
ceal ourselves,  but  consider  our  travail  of  soul  and 
listen  to  the  groanings  that  cannot  be  uttered. 

When  we  have  dared  to  descend  within, 
fathomless  deeps  make  us  afraid,  and  we  dread  to 
know  ourselves  ;  passions  sleep  within  which  any 
wandering  breeze  might  stir  to  storm,  and  we  be 
overwhelmed  beneath  its  waves.  Surely  this 
cannot  be  ourselves,  for  of  this  we  are  afraid. 

Deep  within  we  have  caught  a  glimpse  of 
smiling  seas  which  mirror  the  beauty  of  the 
sky,  while  they  themselves  are  dark  and  foul ; 
strange  self-deceptions  make  us  crave  for  com- 
fort, while  we  sing  of  sacrifice  ;  we  pretend  to 
love  Thee,  but  love  better  still  ambition,  praise, 
the  hollow  word.  If  this  should  be  ourselves, 
all  hope  for  us  is  gone.  Thou  canst  not  love 
what  we  can  only  hate. 

Yet,  deeper  still,  O  God,  lies  hunger  for  Thy- 
self, and  this  must  be  of  Thee,  yet  we  fear  this 
most  of  all.  If  this  should  pass  our  power  to  bear, 
we  might  be  swept  beyond  our  studied  selfishness, 
our  calculating  prudence,  and  never  be  the  same 
again. 

Out  of  such  depths  we  cry  unto  Thee,  O  God. 
Amen. 

17  B 


THE   TEMPLE 


O  God,      ^\  GOD,  Life  Eternal,  save  us  ere  we  die. 
make         ^s      Our    days   are    speeding   fast   away,   the 
save  us?     things  we  meant  to  do  are  still  undone,  what  we 
meant  to  be  we  feel  we  never  shall  be  now,  and 
night  is  nigh. 
O  leave  us  not. 

Sometimes  we  fear  that  life  itself  is  dying  down 
within  us,  learning  comes  no  longer  easy  to  us, 
change  makes  us  afraid,  enthusiasm  fades,  resolve 
proves  impotent. 

O  take  not  Thy  Holy  Spirit  from  us. 
We  have  so  carefully  husbanded  our  resources, 
yet  they  have  steadily  declined.  We  have 
hoarded  our  powers,  but  what  we  kept  we  lost, 
only  what  we  gave  remained  our  own  ;  and 
that  is,  oh  so  small.  We  have  sheltered  our 
souls  from  the  chill  of  criticism,  and  daily  have 
grown  weaker  ;  we  have  excused  ourselves  from 
arduous  tasks,  only  to  lose  our  rest ;  we  have 
shrunk  from  pain,  only  to  find  the  fear  of  life 
invade  and  terrify  our  hearts. 

O  cast  us  not  away  from  Thy  presence. 
Amen. 


18 


THE   OUTER   GATE 


OGOD,  source  of  the  Light  that  never  fades,  There 
and  of  the  Life  that  never  ends,  apart  ar?s£  a 
from  whom  all  is  darkness  and  death  ;  we  lift  famine  in 
our  dimmed  faces  to  Thee,  and  long  for  Thy  that  land, 
life  to  flow  through  our  wearied  hearts. 

To  some  of  us  this  mortal  life  has  brought 
no  happiness  or  lasting  joy ;  though  we  sought 
it  long  and  earnestly.  The  things  on  which 
we  set  our  hearts  have  faded  to  shadows  in 
our  grasp.  The  things  we  dreamed  to  do  we 
have  left  all  undone,  and  we  are  very  desolate. 
Before  the  gaze  of  men  we  have  dissembled  our 
weariness  and  our  unrest ;  but  we  cannot  here. 
It  relieves  our  spirits,  O  our  Father,  to  confess 
what  we  are  ;  most  of  us  are  disappointed  and 
in  despair. 

We  have  tried  the  broad,  well-trodden  way  ; 
we  have  followed  the  primrose  path,  and  played 
the  pleasant  game  ;  tears  and  burdens  we  have 
put  far  from  us  ;  and  yet  the  flowers  have  faded 
at  our  feet,  and  we  have  found  ourselves  at  last 
in  the  wilderness  alone,  the  wine  of  life  turned 
to  gall,  its  bread  to  ashes,  our  hearts  weighed 
down  with  weariness  and  sick  with  fears. 

We  feel  there  is  something  in  life  we  have 
missed,  we  feel  it  as  we  look  towards  the 
western  sky,  feel  it  beneath  the  quiet  stars,  feel 
it  most  of  all  when  we  see  what  Jesus  made  of 
life  like  ours. 

Can  we  retrace  our  steps  and  seek  the  cross- 

19 


THE   TEMPLE 


ways  once  again  where  long  ago  we  missed  our 
path  ?  Dimly  we  remember  there  a  narrow 
way  led  upward  to  a  place  called  Golgotha, 
where,  beyond,  we  saw  the  sky  break  clear 
upon  a  city's  towers. 

O  Shepherd  of  the  lost,  lead  us  there  again  ; 
and  if  the  returning  way  be  too  hard,  and  long, 
and  sad  for  us  to  bear,  of  Thy  great  love  lift  us 
up  and  carry  us,  like  the  lambs,  upon  Thy 
shoulders.  Amen. 


20 


THE   OUTER   GATE 


OGOD,  we  have  heard  of  Thee  with  the  Love's 
hearing  of  the  ear,  but  we  want  to  know  easY 
Thee  for  ourselves.     We  touch  the  outskirts  of  to°  hard 
Thy  presence,  but  we  desire  to  see  Thee  face 
to  face.    We  believe  Thou  art  guiding  our  lives, 
but  we  want  to  feel  Thy  hand. 

But  ah,  how  purely  we  must  love  the  truth 
if  we  are  ever  to  know  Thee  ;  and  it  is  this 
that  makes  us  fear  we  never  may.  Despite  all 
our  earnestness  and  bravery,  we  are  fearful  lest 
the  truth  should  overturn  some  beloved  and 
sheltering  lie.  We  are  curious  to  know  the 
hidden  truth  of  things,  but  we  dread  to  learn 
the  truth  about  ourselves. 

How  deeply  we  must  hunger  after  righteousness 
if  we  would  see  Thy  kingdom  come.  We  long 
for  righteousness,  but  mostly  in  those  who  have 
wronged  us,  and  in  the  ordering  of  things  without. 
If  it  should  mean  a  reformation  of  our  lives,  some 
great  renunciation  of  ourselves,  we  fear  our  love 
for  righteousness  might  never  stand  the  strain. 

We  remember  that  to  love  Thee  we  must 
love  our  brother  also  ;  and  this  we  were  pre- 
pared to  do  till  someone  we  despised  or  hated 
crossed  our  path,  and  then  what  seemed  the 
easy  way  to  Thee  became  impossible. 

Yet,  O  Most  Merciful,  heed  not  our  fears, 
consider  not  our  cowardice,  forgive  our  failings. 
But  hearken  to  those  prayers  of  our  hearts 
which  come  to  us  in  highest  moments  when 
we  forget  ourselves  and  think  of  Thee.  Amen. 
21 


THE   TEMPLE 


Our  God    (~^\  THOU  who  hast  visited  the  children  of 

is  a  con-     x^    men  wjth  Thy  presence,  and  hast  made  us 

fire11112      conscious    of    our    ignorance,    sin    and    frailty ; 

either  take  away  our  hopes  or  satisfy  us  early  with 

Thy  mercy.      A  spark  disturbs  our  clod;    O 

free  us  from  its  plague,  or  fan  it  into  flame  until 

all  dross  and  earthiness  are  consumed. 

Righteousness  we  cannot  claim,  yet  we  hunger 
for  it,  and  can  endure  no  longer  that  our  hunger 
go  unsatisfied.  Why  hast  thou  wakened  our 
discontent,  if  not  to  lead  us  higher  ?  Remain  as 
we  are  we  cannot ;  either  sink  beneath  where 
pain  is  not,  or  rise  above  where  pain  is  turned 
to  purity,  we  must ;  yet  neither  can  we  seem 
to  do. 

O  leave  us  not ;  not  for  all  our  complain- 
ings, nor  for  any  pain.  Better  thirst  and  famine, 
tears  and  torment,  than  the  comfortable  sleep  of 
death. 

Is  this  longing  but  Thyself?  Is  this  sense  of 
loneliness  and  absence  but  the  ante-chamber  of 
Thy  gracious  revealing  ?  This  thirst  we  had  not 
felt  unless  we  had  tasted  the  water  of  life  ;  our 
eyes  had  not  strained  after  Thee,  unless  some 
gleam  of  Thine  had  touched  us. 

Then  come,  our  God,  as  cleansing  wind,  as 
flaming  fire,  O  come  quickly.  Amen. 


22 


THE  OUTER  GATE 


TTHE  river  finds  its  way,  however  slowly,  to  The  re* 
*     the  sea.      The  birds  of  the  heaven  know  *?rj  to 
their  appointed  seasons,  but  how  slow  our  feet 
to  turn  to  Thee. 

When  we  turn  to  seek  Thee,  it  is  often  late,  so 
late  ;  our  feet  failing,  the  storm  driving  us,  and 
only  when  we  have  tried  all  other  ways,  drunk  of 
every  broken  cistern,  consulted  many  physicians 
and  found  ourselves  nothing  better  but  rather 
worse,  do  we  turn  to  Thee.  O  the  mercy  that 
Thou  receivest  us  even  then. 

Yet  some  of  us  must  travel  farther  ere  we 
turn  again.  Not  yet  are  we  sure  that  some  fruit 
of  pleasure,  some  drug  of  sin,  may  not  be  the 
medicine  we  need.  We  have  not  yet  lost  all 
hope  in  ourselves.  In  all  our  folly  do  not  Thou 
forget  us,  nor  release  the  hidden  thread  that 
binds  us  to  our  home. 

But  some  of  us  want  to  come  while  the  day 
is  young  and  life  is  full ;  to  come,  not  because 
we  must,  but  because  we  may  ;  to  choose  Thee 
with  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world  in  sight ;  to 
count  Thee  better  than  all  the  treasures  of 
knowledge  or  the  pleasures  of  sin.  Give  us 
the  grace  to  come  even  now.  Amen. 


THE  TEMPLE 


Not  far      (~\    GOD,    who   hast   made   all    things,   and 

from  the    ^-^    orderest  all  things  to  fulfil  Thy  purposes  ; 

Kingdom.  we  whom  Thou   hast  created  to    be    free  and 

choose  the  good,  turn  again  to  Thee ;  for  our 

freedom  is  found  only  in  Thy  service,  and  there 

is  no  good  that  we  desire  beside  Thee. 

It  cannot  be  that  Thou  hast  created  what  Thou 
canst  not  govern,  yet  we  have  been  strangely 
wilful  and  rebellious.  We  have  wrestled  all 
night  with  one  who  would  overcome  us,  and 
then  in  the  morning  light  have  seen  Thy  face 
and  learned  Thy  name.  We  have  closed  our 
door  against  an  entreating  voice,  to  find  that 
light  and  joy  have  departed  from  us. 

Surely  Thou  wilt  not  leave  us  because  we 
fought  against  Thee  ;  we  did  not  know  with 
whom  we  strove.  Take  not  our  refusal  for  an 
answer,  but  have  pity  on  our  misguided  minds. 

Can  it  be  that  Thou  hast  created  a  capacity 
that  Thou  canst  not  satisfy,  that  these  hearts 
must  for  ever  hunger  and  never  be  filled,  these 
eyes  strain  to  watch  for  a  glory  that  they  can  never 
behold  ?  O  God,  none  but  Thyself,  none  but 
Thyself ;  not  Thy  gifts,  but  Thee  we  crave. 

Thus  we  lift  to  Thee  our  broken  cries,  thus 
we  turn  to  Thee  our  waiting  eyes.  If  we  may 
not  see  Thee  as  Thou  art,  then  gather  Thyself 
into  human  form,  come  to  us  through  the  night, 
walk  upon  the  waves  of  the  storm,  and  bid  us 
be  not  afraid.  If  Thy  love  cannot  be  told,  then 

24 


THE  OUTER  GATE 


pour  it  forth  in  sacrifice  that  we  may  see  and 
understand.  So  shall  our  pain  be  assuaged  and 
our  hearts  comforted  of  their  sorrows. 

Like  the  night  enwraps  the  hills ;  as  stars 
steal  into  the  skies  ;  like  a  shepherd  folds  his 
sheep  ;  as  a  mother  stills  her  child  ;  like  calm 
after  storm,  rest  after  battle,  hope  after  fear ;  O 
come.  Amen. 


THE   INNER   COURT 


/  called  upon  the  Lord  in  distress  : 

the  Lord  answered  me, 
and  set  me  in  a  large  place. 

— Psalm  cxviii.  5. 


THE  INNER   COURT 


OGOD,  too  near  to  be  found,  too  simple  to  Behold, 
be  conceived,  too  good  to  be  believed  ;  help  Thou 
us  to  trust,  not  in  our  knowledge  of  Thee,  but  withiru 
in  Thy  knowledge  of  us  ;  to  be  certain  of  Thee, 
not  because  we  feel  our  thoughts  of  Thee  are 
true,  but  because  we  know  how  far  Thou  dost 
transcend  them.     May  we   not  be   anxious   to 
discern  Thy  will,  but  content  only  with  desire 
to  do  it  ;  may  we  not  strain  our  minds  to  under- 
stand Thy  nature,  but  yield  ourselves  and  live 
our  lives  only  to  express  Thee. 

Shew  us  how  foolish  it  is  to  doubt  Thee, 
since  Thou  Thyself  dost  set  the  questions  which 
disturb  us;  reveal  our  unbelief  to  be  faith  fretting 
at  its  outworn  form.  Be  gracious  when  we 
are  tempted  to  cease  from  moral  strife  :  reveal 
what  it  is  that  struggles  in  us.  Before  we  tire 
of  mental  search  enable  us  to  see  that  it  was 
not  ourselves  but  Thy  call  which  stirred  our 
souls. 

Turn  us  back  from  our  voyages  of  thought  to 
that  which  sent  us  forth.  Teach  us  to  trust 
not  to  cleverness  or  learning,  but  to  that  inward 
faith  which  can  never  be  denied.  Lead  us  out 
of  confusion  to  simplicity.  Call  us  back  from 
wandering  without  to  find  Thee  at  home  within. 
Amen. 


29 


THE   TEMPLE 


Ex  um- 
bris  et 

bus  in  * 

verita- 

tern. 


MOST  Merciful,  whose  love  to  us  is 
mighty,  long-suffering,  and  infinitely  ten- 
der  5  ^ead  us  beyond  all  idols  and  imaginations  of 
our  minds  to  contact  with  Thee  the  real  and 
abiding  ;  past  all  barriers  of  fear  and  beyond  all 
paralysis  of  failure  to  that  furnace  of  flaming 
purity  where  falsehood,  sin  and  cowardice  are  all 
consumed  away.  It  may  be  that  we  know  not 
what  we  ask  ;  yet  we  dare  not  ask  for  less. 

Our  aspirations  are  hindered  because  we  do 
not  know  ourselves.  We  have  tried  to  slake 
our  burning  thirst  at  broken  cisterns,  to  comfort 
the  crying  of  our  spirits  with  baubles  and  trinkets, 
to  assuage  the  pain  of  our  deep  unrest  by  drug- 
ging an  accusing  conscience,  believing  a  lie,  and 
veiling  the  naked  flame  that  burns  within.  But 
now  we  know  Thou  makest  us  never  to  be 
content  with  aught  save  Thyself,  in  earth,  or 
heaven,  or  hell. 

Sometimes  we  have  sought  Thee  in  agony 
and  tears,  scanned  the  clouds  and  watched  the 
ways  of  men,  considered  the  stars  and  studied 
the  moral  law  ;  and  returned  from  all  our  search 
no  surer  and  no  nearer.  Yet  now  we  know 
that  the  impulse  to  seek  Thee  came  from  Thy- 
self alone,  and  what  we  sought  for  was  the  image 
Thou  hadst  first  planted  in  our  hearts. 

We  may  not  yet  hold  Thee  fast  or  feel  Thee 
near,  but  we  know  Thou  holdest  us,  and  all  is 
well.  Amen. 

30 


THE  INNER   COURT 


O  LIGHT  that  burns  and  heals,  O  Love  that  Who 
breaks  and  soothes  the  heart,  O  Life  that  ^hal} 
stirs  and  satisfies  ;  how  shall  we  endure  Thee  ?    ^heve 

We    have    prayed   so    carelessly   that    Thou  lasting 
wouldst  show  us  Thy  love,  forgetting  that  angels  jxjrn" 
veil  themselves  before  Thee.     We  have  longed  Ings 
to  look  upon  the  beauty  of  Thy  countenance, 
not  considering  whether  anything  would   ever 
seem  so  fair  again.     We  have  soueht  to  know 

O  O 

all  mysteries,  and  never  stayed  to  ask  if  we  had 
fortitude  to  bear  the  truth.  We  have  desired  to 
follow  after  Christ,  counting  not  His  lonely  way, 
His  utter  sacrifice,  His  broken  heart. 

And  now  we  have  come  at  length  to  appre- 
hend what  such  answered  prayers  might  mean, 
yet  with  the  clearer  light  we  dare  to  ask  them 
all  again.  Answer  them  even  though  we  do 
not  fully  know ;  for  we  are  tired  of  twilight, 
falsehood,  and  the  easy  way.  Tremblingly  we 
place  ourselves  in  Thy  hands.  Lead  us  by  Thy 
love  into  fuller  light  and  to  more  glorious  life. 
Amen. 


THE  TEMPLE 


He  arose  f~\  GOD,  infinite  in  Mercy,  Love,  and  Power, 
and  came  V-X  hear  the  cry  of  Thy  children,  meet  our  deep 
father  necessities,  and  answer  our  unutterable  desires. 

We  come  to  Thee  as  those  who  are  brought 
sick  and  wasted  to  their  native  air,  when  all 
other  cures  have  failed.  Thou  hast  made  us, 
and  stood  us  a  hand's-breadth  off,  that  we  might 
return  to  Thee  if  we  chose  ;  and  because  we 
did  not  know,  and  were  childish  and  wilful,  we 
essayed  to  manage  life  alone. 

We  have  failed  to  comprehend  ourselves  or 
grasp  our  little  life's  full  meaning.  We  bring 
Thee  but  broken  aspirations,  unfulfilled  attempts, 
and  many  a  failure  that  makes  us  ashamed.  Wilt 
Thou  receive  us  ?  The  night  is  coming  down 
dark  and  fearful,  there  is  no  time  to  put  things 
straight,  and  our  eyes  are  aching  for  the  light. 

Thou  didst  send  us  into  life  infants  without 
knowledge,  but  full  of  needs.  There  was  so 
much  that  promised  to  satisfy  :  the  bauble  of 
fame,  the  glitter  of  gold,  the  seductiveness  of 
sin.  When  these  had  failed  we  tried  the  waters 
of  for  get  fulness,  and  the  bread  of  pleasure  ;  and 
now  famine  has  come,  and  we  perish  here  with 
hunger. 

Father,  we  remember  still  the  house  where 
even  the  servants  had  enough  and  to  spare,  and 
we  turn  our  steps  homeward  again.  Meet  us 
with  the  kiss  of  peace.  Amen. 

32 


THE  INNER   COURT 


ALMIGHTY  Father,  whose  presence  fillest  Thy  faith* 
*"*   all   things;    we   thank   Thee   that   Thou  ^///d 
canst  by  no  means  be  excluded  from  the  work^/^ 
of  Thy  hands.     We  thank   Thee  that   Thou  although 
hast  made  us  to  realize  Thyself,  and  that  Thy  from  afar* 
purposes   are    beyond    defeat.      We    have    shut 
ourselves  in,  girded  the  mind  with  strong  argu- 
ment, repeated    our  unbelief  like  a   creed,  but 
we  have  never  escaped  Thee. 

We  have  striven  to  walk  alone  in  pride, 
sufficiency  and  ostentation,  and  then  some 
thought  of  Thee  has  shattered  all  our  wilfulness 
and  we  have  gone  softly  ever  afterwards,  and 
prayed  :  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner. 

We  have  plunged  into  sin,  we  have  turned 
from  the  bright  ideals  which  plagued  us,  we 
have  stabbed  at  our  own  complaining  souls, 
drugged  our  conscience,  poisoned  our  minds, 
set  up  idols,  made  our  hearts  like  hell — and  lo, 
Thou  art  there. 

We  yield  to  Thee,  O  God,  for  Thou  art 
stronger  than  we.  We  cannot  escape  Thee 
without  forsaking  our  reason,  our  hope  and  our 
joy.  We  cannot  do  without  Thee,  unless  we 
surrender  all  that  comforts  and  all  that  inspires. 
Forgive  us  our  folly,  pardon  our  wandering, 
make  room  for  us  within  Thy  gracious  love. 
Amen. 


THE   TEMPLE 


The  way  1V/T  ERCIFUL  Father,  whose  faithfulness  abides 
of  reality,  1V1  ajj  our  fickleness,  whose  forgiveness  out- 
lasts all  our  sins ;  take  from  our  minds,  we 
pray,  the  delusions  that  threaten  our  sanity  and 
mislead  our  minds.  We  mistake  shadows  for 
realities,  we  are  afraid  of  things  that  do  not  exist, 
we  spend  our  labour  for  bread  that  perisheth, 
for  treasures  that  fade. 

Reveal  to  us  wherein  standeth  our  life,  lest 
we  miss  for  ever  its  significance  and  reality,  and 
it  pass  like  a  dream  away. 

Be  gracious  to  us,  O  Compassionate,  when 
with  the  light  shining  clear  upon  us  we  turn  in 
madness  and  rebellion  to  the  dark.  Why  should 
we  fall  so  easily  and  turn  away  so  soon  ?  Help 
us  to  believe  that  in  all  our  sin  and  self-reproach 
Thou  abidest  with  us  still,  and  that  our  sorrow 
is  but  Thyself  suffering  within  to  bring  us  to 
salvation. 

We  turn  in  longing  unto  Thee  ;  Thy  perfec- 
tion calls  us,  Thy  mercy  welcomes  us.  Be 
unto  us  as  the  morning,  dear  Grace  of  God. 
Be  unto  us  as  fires  that  cleanse,  Thou  glorious 
Sun  of  Righteousness.  Amen. 


34 


THE   INNER  COURT 


ALMIGHTY  God,  in  whom  alone  we  live,  Yet  will 
-**  we  turn  in  all  our  need  to  Thee,  the  not  l^°*' 
fountain  of  our  life.  Thou  hast  made  all  things 
dependent  upon  Thee  for  their  existence,  and 
Thou  hast  made  our  hearts  so  that  they  fail  with- 
out the  inspiration  of  Thy  presence.  Forgive 
us  if,  knowing  this,  we  have  been  careless  about 
that  which  should  be  our  chief  concern,  if  we 
have  taken  no  pains  to  establish  a  life  of  com- 
munion with  Thee,  if  we  have  not  hungered 
and  thirsted  after  righteousness.  We  have  been 
slack  in  prayer,  careless  in  living,  until  we  have 
found  a  glory  departing  from  the  earth  and  Thy 
rest  from  our  hearts.  We  thank  Thee  that 
Thou  dost  never  withdraw  Thyself  from  us 
without  our  knowing  that  the  Spirit  of  God 
has  departed.  Thou  makest  us  quickly  to  cry 
after  Thee.  O  visit  us  early  with  Thy  mercy, 
satisfy  with  Thyself,  for  Thou  art  our  God. 
Bind  us  to  Thee  with  the  bond  of  an  endless  love. 
Find  us  in  the  wilderness,  lead  us  to  where 
fountains  of  living  waters  flow,  shepherd  us 
where  flowers  for  ever  bloom.  Bring  us  in 
sight,  most  Gracious  One,  of  the  Cross,  at  once 
life's  mystery  and  life's  healing.  And  may  our 
foolish  wandering  and  false  self-worship  come 
to  an  end  this  day.  Hold  us,  for  Thou  art 
stronger  than  we.  Forgive  us,  for  Thou  art 
kinder  than  we  dare  to  be.  Amen. 

35 


THE   TEMPLE 


The  love   (^)  GOD,  we  thank  Thee  that  Thy  love  is 
which        ^*S    so    constant   and    tender    that    it    passeth 
km)5-       understanding.    A  mother's  love  may  fail  towards 
ledge.        ner  only  child,  our  faithlessness  sometimes  robs 
us  of  the  love  of  our  friends,  self-knowledge 
prevents  us  ever  loving  ourselves,  yet  Thy  love 
for  us  is  not  conditioned  by  our  worthlessness, 
but    through    all    rebellion,    waywardness    and 
despair  continues  unfailing  and  unending. 
Help  us  then  to  fly  to  Thee. 
We  thank  Thee  more  that  Thy  love  is  just 
when   it  is  merciful.     Often  we   have  pleaded 
earnestly  that  something  might  step  in  between 
us  and  the  entail  of  our  sin  ;  that  when  we  have 
stooped  to  meanness,  sought  the  refuge  of  lies, 
done  some  unrighteous  deed,  all  might  be  for- 
gotten and  life  flow  on  as  before.     We  are  glad  to 
know  that  Thy  justice  is  wiser  than  our  mercy, 
and  Thy  purpose  greater  than  our  prayers. 

Help  us  to  trust  only  in  that  forgiveness 
which  needs  not  to  forget. 

We  thank  Thee  most  that  Thy  love  is  like 
the  light,  relentless,  unescapeable,  victorious. 
Thou  wilt  not  leave  us  in  the  darkness,  however 
much  we  love  it ;  Thou  wilt  not  let  us  shield  our- 
selves with  ignorance,  deception  or  pride,  but  wilt 
shine  in  upon  us,  whatever  be  revealed  ;  burn 
Thy  way  to  our  souls,  at  whatever  pain. 

Therefore  is  all  our  trust  in  Thy  mercy  and 
our  final  refuge  in  Thy  love.  Amen. 

36 


THE   INNER   COURT 


CTERNAL  and  ever  blessed  God,  blessed  be-  He  hath 
"  cause  Thou  eternally  givest ;  we  thank  g|v"? us 
Thee  for  the  enrichment  of  our  life  by 
the  wondrous  communication  of  Thyself  to 
man.  We  thank  Thee  that  Thou  hast  set 
eternity  in  our  hearts  and  planted  the  image 
of  Thyself  within.  We  mourn  our  concern 
for  transient  and  trifling  things  which  so  often 
distract  our  minds  from  high  pursuits  and  set 
our  thoughts  upon  unworthy  ends  ;  yet  we  are 
thankful  that  nothing  temporal  has  power  to 
satisfy  our  souls.  We  lament  the  defacement 
of  Thine  image  in  us  by  foolish  sin  and  irreve- 
rent thought,  but  we  rejoice  that  it  can  never 
quite  be  blotted  out.  For  Thou  hast  made" 
the  world  without  us  and  the  heart  within 
to  bring  these  things  continually  to  mind. 
The  murmur  of  the  wind,  the  far-stretching 
distance,  the  purple  mountains  set  the  spirit 
longing  for  something  vaster  than  earth  itself 
can  give.  The  love  of  friends,  the  inner  vision 
of  the  soul,  the  spur  of  conscience,  and  the  com- 
manding call  of  goodness  keep  Thine  image 
bright  within. 

For  all  our  failures  and  our  faithlessness  Thou 
art  still  our  hope.     Cast  us  not  away  from  Thy 
presence,  and  take  not  Thy  Holy  Spirit  from  us. 
Amen. 


37 


THE   TEMPLE 


In  man  is  C  OUL  of  the  universe,  Light  of  the  mind  of 

God,  and    O    man?  Spirit  of  Jesus  Christ ;  who  dwellest 

a£         *  in  all  things,  from  whom  and  in  whom  and  unto 

whom  we  are  ;  we  thank  Thee  that  Thou  hast 

so  formed  the  world  and  so  made  the  heart  of 

man  that  we  cannot  escape  Thee,  and  would 

not  if  we  could. 

In  all  our  restless  desire  it  is  Thee  we  really 
seek,  even  though  we  know  it  not ;  for  if  we 
have  all  and  not  Thee,  we  have  nothing,  and 
our  spirits  remain  still  famished  and  athirst. 

Thou  comest  to  us  through  every  channel  of 
impression  and  visitest  the  heart  in  every  experi- 
ence ;  for  even  though  we  do  not  mark  Thy 
coming  and  we  fail  to  recognise  Thy  hand,  ever 
and  always  Thou  findest  some  secret  way  within, 
and  the  silence  of  the  soul  announceth  Thou 
art  there. 

Interpret  then  to  us,  we  pray  Thee,  the 
movement  of  the  world  and  the  motives  of  our 
hearts  ;  so  that  we  shall  no  longer  search  for 
what  we  have,  nor  seek  with  sin  to  stay  desires 
designed  to  find  no  satisfaction  till  we  come  to 
Thee. 

Shine  through  our  blindness,  break  through 
all  our  delusions,  strive  with  our  rebellion,  plead 
with  our  pride.     Thou  art  our  All,  leave  us  not. 
Amen. 


THE  INNER   COURT 


GOD,  whose  word  is  hidden  in  the  frame-  Atsundry 
work  of  the  world,  shines  in  the  mind  of  ?in\c.s  and 
man,  and  is  made  flesh   in    Jesus  Christ ;    we  Banners, 
have  heard  Thee  calling  us  by  name,  and  like 
sheep  to  a  shepherd,  children  to  a  father,  we 
come  to  Thee. 

In  every  age  men  have  heard  Thy  voice,  and 
we  can  hear  it  still.  We  catch  its  accents  in 
the  whispering  wind  and  the  sighing  gale,  its 
music  in  the  ray  of  stars  and  in  the  light  of  day. 
Beneath  the  hum  of  the  world's  vast  work,  and 
beyond  all  the  clamour  of  men,  it  soundeth  to  us. 
And  when  we  shut  our  eyes  or  stop  our  ears,  it 
calleth  louder  still  within. 

We  have  journeyed  far,  but  Thy  voice  has 
followed  ;  we  have  been  careless,  rebellious,  and 
sometimes  tried  to  drown  Thy  call ;  but  as  we 
dared  to  hearken,  it  came  back  again,  and  is 
with  us  to  this  hour. 

We  know  we  can  never  roam  where  that 
voice  will  not  follow,  nor  shall  we  ever  try  again  ; 
for  we  know  it  leads  to  joy  and  rest,  to  happy 
service  and  to  perfect  freedom.  We  know  it  is 
the  voice  of  love  beyond  imagination  or  desire, 
the  call  of  a  heart  that  feels  and  cares. 

So  long,  so  late,  and  many  of  us  so  sad,  yet  at 
last  we  come.    Fold  us  with  Thy  sheep,  number 
us  among  Thy  family,  call  us  to  be  Thy  friends. 
Amen. 


39 


THE   TEMPLE 


Whose 
light  is 
Truth, 
whose 
warmth 
is  Love* 


INFINITE  Light  of  Truth,  dawn  upon 
our  darkened  minds,  and  lead  us  past  all 
shams  and  shadows  to  Thyself.  Make  us  dis- 
contented with  anything  less  than  Thee,  lest 
we  be  found  following  broken  lights  or  moulding 
some  image  of  Thee  from  base  desire.  In  this 
hour  of  worship  cleanse  us  with  longing  for 
Thee  alone. 

O  Infinite  Life  of  Love,  the  Source,  the  Way, 
the  Goal  of  all  true  life  ;  may  we  feel  the  tides 
of  Thy  Being  sweeping  round  our  hearts,  catch 
sight  of  that  immortal  sea  which  brought  us 
hither,  and  open  the  flood-gates  of  our  lives  to 
the  ocean  of  Thy  love. 

Forgive  us  for  our  shrinking  from  the  light, 
forgive  us  for  all  fear  of  love.  Leave  us  not 
alone  to  our  darkness  and  dread,  lift  up  our 
hearts  and  make  us  strong.  Amen. 


40 


THE   INNER   COURT 


OTHOU  who  art  all,  without  Thee  we  are  Our 
nothing ;  yet  Thou  who  art  all  can  surely  n^" 
make  us  something.     To  live  apart  from  Thee  J^ve  God 
is  impossible  ;  to  hate  Thee  is  to  court  death  ;  and  the 
to  love  Thee  is  to  love  everything  ;  what  shall  g°°d  wj11 
we  do  then  but  love  Thee,  and  all  things  shall 
then  be  ours  ? 

Thy  law  is  inevitable,  and  Thy  love  is  in- 
escapeable.  Whither  shall  we  flee  from  Thy 
Spirit,  or  whither  shall  we  go  from  Thy 
presence  ?  If  we  ascend  to  the  heavens,  Thou 
art  there,  and  it  is  Thyself  that  makest  all  the 
hells  our  souls  can  know.  We  have  to  come  to 
Thee  because  we  cannot  fly  from  Thee ;  we 
yield  to  Thee  because  we  can  do  no  other. 

But  not  only  because  we  must,  but  because 
we  may,  we  come  to  Thee ;  it  is  Thy  love  that 
compels,  and  it  is  our  very  selves  that  answer  to 
Thy  call.  The  revelation  of  Thyself  ends  all 
rebellion,  the  shewing  of  Thy  heart  has  broken 
ours.  From  One  who  has  loved  us  to  the  utter- 
most, we  cannot  keep  our  own  poor  love.  To 
the  Father  who  begat  us,  and  bore  with  us  and 
desires  to  be  our  Friend,  we  cannot  refuse  the 
service  of  our  sonship.  So,  as  an  arrow  to  its 
mark,  as  dew  drawn  heavenward  by  the  sun, 
as  a  child  to  its  mother's  breast,  we  come. 
Amen. 


THE  TEMPLE 


The  /^   GOD,  who  hast  encompassed  us  with  so 

Inner  V>^  much  that  is  dark  and  perplexing,  and 
yet  hast  set  within  us  light  enough  to  walk 
by  ;  enable  us  to  trust  what  Thou  hast  given 
as  sufficient  for  us,  and  steadfastly  refuse  to 
follow  aught  else  ;  lest  the  light  that  is  in  us 
become  as  darkness  and  we  wander  from  the 
way.  May  we  be  loyal  to  all  the  truth  we 
know,  and  seek  to  discharge  those  duties  which 
lay  their  commission  on  our  conscience  ;  so  that 
we  may  come  at  length  to  perfect  light  in  Thee, 
and  find  our  wills  in  harmony  with  Thine. 

Since  Thou  hast  planted  our  feet  in  a  world 
so  full  of  chance  and  change  that  we  know  not 
what  a  day  may  bring  forth,  and  hast  curtained 
every  day  with  night  and  rounded  our  little 
lives  with  sleep  ;  grant  that  we  may  use  with 
diligence  our  appointed  span  of  time,  working 
while  it  is  called  to-day,  since  the  night  cometh 
when  no  man  can  work  ;  having  our  loins  girt 
and  our  lamps  alight,  lest  the  cry  at  midnight 
find  us  sleeping  and  the  door  fast  shut. 

Since  we  are  so  feeble,  faint  and  foolish,  leave 
us  not  to  our  own  devices,  not  even  when  we 
pray  Thee  to  ;  nor  suffer  us  for  any  care  to 
Thee  or  for  any  pain  to  us  to  walk  our  own 
unheeding  way.  Plant  thorns  about  our  feet, 
touch  our  hearts  with  fear,  give  us  no  rest  apart 
from  Thee,  lest  we  lose  our  way  and  miss  the 
happy  gate.  Amen. 

42 


THE   INNER   COURT 


GOD,  there  are  many  things  in  our  life  Why  dost 


we  cannot  understand,  but  there  are  a  few 
we  can,  and  we  thank  Thee  for  these.  to^rr  US 

We  cannot  understand  why  we  should,  like  from  Thy 
silly  sheep,  stray  so  often  from  the  paths  of  peace,  ways? 
why  the  bent  of  our  nature  should  be  towards 
folly,  why  we  should  continuously  incline  towards 
evil.     But  we  are  grateful  at  least  that  we  do 
know  when  our  feet  have  missed  the  track  ;  we 
never  mistake  the  lonely  night  upon  the  moun- 
tains or  the  wandering  in  the  wilderness  for  the 
shelter  and  plenty  of  the  fold. 

We  cannot  understand  why  we  can  never 
learn  from  the  experience  of  others,  when  it 
witnesses  consistently  that  the  way  of  trans- 
gressors is  hard  ;  that  the  stolen  fruit  crumbles  to 
ashes  on  the  lips  ;  that  as  we  reap  we  sow.  But 
at  least  we  are  thankful  that  we  are  never  satisfied 
with  sin,  that  forbidden  fruit  never  quenches 
thirst  or  satiates  hunger,  but  only  sets  our  teeth 
on  edge  ;  that  no  bread  of  life  can  be  made  from 
the  wild  oats  we  have  sown.  We  are  thankful 
that  not  all  the  glitter  and  tinsel  of  the  world 
can  finally  deceive  us. 

We  cannot  understand  why  we  must  try  every 
physician  before  we  try  Him  who  alone  can  heal 
us.  We  are  so  pitifully  taken  in  by  any  impostor. 
At  whose  door  have  we  not  waited  ?  But  we 
are  thankful  that  we  never  think  we  have 
found  heartsease  when  we  have  not  ;  that  we  do 

43 


THE  TEMPLE 


not  imagine  we  are  growing  better  when  dis- 
ease is  still  wasting  our  frames.  We  are  glad 
we  never  rest  until  we  come  at  last  to  the  great 
Physician. 

What  we  cannot  understand  is  why  He  should 
receive  us,  and  take  us  in  and  spend  Himself 
upon  our  healing.  But  that  we  do  not  ask  to 
understand  :  it  is  the  wondrous  love  to  which 
we  trust,  the  mercy  in  which  is  all  our  hope. 
Amen. 


44 


THE  INNER   COURT 


LORD     most    high    and    wonderful,    to  Neither 

whose   mind    the    past   and    the    future  *n  Jhee 
!  ,  .   ,         11  doth  to* 

meet    in  our  eternal  now,   to  whose  sight  all  day  ever 

things  lie  naked  and  open  ;  we  are  the  creatures  pass 
of  shifting  time  to  whom  the  past  is  soon  for-  awav» 
gotten  and  from  whom  the  future  is  completely 
veiled. 

Our  day  is  but  a  gleam  of  light  between  two 
nights  of  dark.  The  mists  hang  about  our  minds, 
our  feet  are  fettered,  we  are  bruised  and  bound, 
robbed  and  cheated  every  day.  Yet  we  can  con- 
ceive a  higher  knowledge  beside  which  ours  is 
poor  and  incomplete.  Though  our  ignorance  is 
well-nigh  universal,  at  least  we  know  we  do  not 
know  ;  our  night  is  never  so  long  or  so  dark  that 
we  forget  what  the  day  is  like.  We  are  more 
than  we  seem,  and  Thou  art  nearer  than  we 
dream.  Yet  we  only  dare  to  ask  for  light  upon 
one  step  ahead,  faith  to  take  one  day  at  a  time, 
endurance  to  wait  for  the  dawn. 

Forgive  the  crushing  care  that  comes  from  our 
lack  of  vision,  our  fears  that  the  truth  will  never 
be  clear,  our  frenzied,  ineffectual  strivings.  Let 
us  feel  through  all  that  Thou  dost  lead  us  on. 
Forgive  the  impertinence  that  would  hurry  on 
the  dawn,  that  would  thrust  impious  hands  across 
the  pattern  Thou  art  weaving,  that  would  outrun 
Thy  perfect  will  for  us. 

May  we  become  heirs  to  the  Spirit  of  Jesus, 
calm  because  there  are  twelve  hours  in  the  day, 
45 


THE   TEMPLE 


confident  that  the  truth  shall  yet  be  proclaimed 
from  the  housetops,  courageous  enough  to  endure 
the  cross,  despise  the  shame,  and  in  death  to  com- 
mit ourselves  into  Thy  hands.  Amen. 


THE   INNER   COURT 


THOU  who  art  from  everlasting  to  ever-  We  know 
lasting,  Ancient  of  days,  yet  ever  new  ;  a11  things 
all  things  wax  old  as  doth  a  garment,  but  Thou 
art  the  same  and  Thy  years  shall  not  fail.  We 
who  are  born  amid  the  things  of  time  and  swad- 
dled in  a  vesture  of  sense,  turn  to  catch  some 
glimpse  of  things  eternal.  Our  life  is  but  a 
moment  in  the  vastness  of  eternity,  and  yet  it  is 
long  enough  for  us  to  grow  old  and  careworn. 
We  inherit  wisdom  from  all  the  ages,  the  key  of 
hidden  treasure  is  in  our  hands,  but  we  do  not 
understand  the  truth  ;  we  are  very  wise  but  very 
weary ;  rich  and  increased  with  goods,  but  friend- 
less and  unloved.  We  have  spoiled  our  sight  in 
poring  over  many  books,  while  the  unclasped 
books  of  nature  and  the  heart  remain  unread. 
And  now,  like  men  of  old,  we  have  come  to 
search  for  simplicity,  for  freedom  and  for  truth. 
Lead  us,  O  Father,  back  to  the  lowliness  of 
childhood,  that  we  may  be  born  again.  Lead 
us  to  the  Babe  of  Bethlehem,  to  Thy  Holy  Child 
Jesus,  to  Him  who  kept  His  heart  unaged  through 
all  His  years  of  earth,  and  is  now  alive  for  ever- 
more. 

Carry  us  in  Thy  arms  as  a  child  ;  as  a  mother 
comforteth  her  only  son,  so  comfort  us ;  for 
with  all  our  years  and  learning  we  are  infants 
crying  in  the  night,  hungry  for  the  breast  of 
God.  Amen. 

47 


THE  TEMPLE 


Exiles  of  C  TAN  DING,  O  our  God,  upon  the  shrink- 
eternity.  V  ing  shores  of  time,  where  ever  break  and 
moan  the  waves  of  an  eternal  sea,  we  feel  utterly 
homeless  and  afraid.  Beneath  our  feet,  crumb- 
ling rock  and  shifting  sand  ;  around  us,  scenes 
that  change  ;  before  us,  an  ocean  perilous,  un- 
chartered  and  dark  with  storm.  We  have  heard 
that  far  over  the  horizon  islands  of  the  blest  lift 
fronded  palms  in  air.  All  we  know  for  certain 
is  that  this  is  not  our  home.  We  cannot  stand 
this  restless  change,  this  hurrying  pace  of  life, 
the  loss  of  loved  ones,  the  terror  of  the  shade 
which  creeps  around  us.  We  must  build  our 
everlasting  mansion,  not  here  upon  time's  flooded 
shore  but  in  Thee,  man's  dwelling-place  in  every 
generation. 

Standing,  O  our  God,  before  the  face  of  Christ 
so  glorious,  beneath  His  cross  so  strange,  we 
cannot  rest  content  with  what  we  are,  so  craven, 
mean  and  petty,  so  sinful,  stained  and  poor.  We 
know  we  were  meant  to  be  infinitely  more. 
Thy  voice  in  Him  calls  us  to  live  as  sons  of  God, 
to  venture  all,  to  love  to  the  uttermost,  to  spend 
ourselves  even  unto  death.  But  the  flesh  is  weak; 
our  frailty  shrinks  from  His  purity,  His  loneli- 
ness, His  awful  Passion.  Yet  if  we  could  only 
be  as  He,  we  should  be  at  last  at  rest.  Then,  O 
reveal  Thy  Son  in  us.  May  Christ  be  born 
within  us,  and  rise  from  the  tomb  of  our  dead 
selves,  glorious  and  triumphant.  Amen. 


THE  INNER   COURT 


o 


THOU,  whose  love   passeth  knowledge,  Every 


and  whose  peace  passeth  understanding,  heart  con- 
it  was  Thy  thought  which  conceived  us,  Thy  felon's*' 
love  which  bare  us.  We  are  of  yesterday  and  germ* 
know  nothing,  and  yet  we  partake  of  Thine 
infinite  nature ;  the  truth  we  cannot  attain 
shines  ever  before  us,  so  that  we  know  how 
far  short  of  Thy  glory  we  fall.  Our  hearts 
are  restless  in  their  search  for  rest,  and  even 
though  we  find  nothing  to  satisfy  our  desire,  this 
but  witnesses  that  Thou  Thyself  art  the  goal  of 
all  our  strivings ;  it  is  Thyself  who  hast  made  us 
to  long  for  Thine  infinite  perfection,  Thy  eternal 
nature,  Thy  holy  and  omnipotent  love. 

We  thank  Thee  for  the  unquenchable  impulse 
towards  Thee  Thou  hast  planted  within.  We 
are  pained  by  its  passion,  disturbed  by  its  desire, 
and  there  have  been  times  when  we  have  sought 
to  destroy  its  power  ;  but  we  thank  Thee  we 
cannot. 

We  bless  Thee  for  Him  who  gave  full  utter- 
ance to  Thy  Spirit,  whose  joy  was  to  do  Thy 
will,  who  clothed  the  inborn  word  with  flesh, 
that  all  might  come  to  know  themselves  and 
Thee.  We  see  Thy  purpose  for  our  life  on 
earth  displayed  in  Christ,  and  we  would  yield 
our  spirits  to  Him  ;  but  Thy  purpose  for  our  life 
to  come  is  lost  in  unimaginable  glory  and  light. 

Set  us  in  the  light  of  eternity  once  again  to- 
day.    Reveal  what  we  are.     Make  us  able  to 
49  D 


THE   TEMPLE 


bear  Thy  revelation,  brave  enough  to  do  Thy 
will.  Enable  us  to  see  the  path  that  leads  to 
Thee,  in  the  things  around  us  ;  to  respond  to 
Thy  call  to  holy,  helpful  service.  O  give  us 
to  express  something  of  Thee  before  we  go 
hence  and  on  our  life's  brief  day  the  night  comes 
down.  Amen. 


THE  INNER   COURT 


IMMORTAL,  Eternal,  Invisible,  with  whom  Through 
•*•      is    no    mutability    or    changing   shade,    no  things 
night    or    winter,    no    ebbing    tide  ;    we,    the  soThat'we 
children  of  time  and  sense,  are  met  to  worship  .  .  .  lose 
Thee.     Thou  art  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  n<* the 
and  for  ever,  and  we  are  fretted  by  every  pass- 
ing   wind,    tempest-tossed    and    afraid.       Thy 
years  fail   not,  and  though  all   things   fade  as 
doth    a   garment,   Thou   remainest ;  while  we 
spend  our  years  as  a  tale  that  is  told.     Thy  holi- 
ness and  perfection  surpass  all  thought,  and  we 
are  stained  by  childish  faults  and  petty  sins. 

Make  us  not  to  despair,  Eternal  Father ;  we 
are  called  by  Thy  name,  we  are  Thine.  Thou 
hast  set  thoughts  of  Thee  in  our  hearts,  Thou 
hast  made  us  restless  among  the  things  we  see, 
Thou  hast  made  us  to  thirst  after  purity,  Thou 
hast  taught  us  to  hope  for  eternal  life. 

Teach  us  not  to  despise  the  life  we  are  called 
to  live,  since  it  was  given  us  by  Thee.  Teach 
us  not  to  neglect  the  task  of  to-day  because  we 
cannot  see  its  eternal  effect.  Teach  us  not  to 
neglect  the  little  duties  which  are  training  us 
for  a  great  stewardship.  May  we  remember 
that  this  life  of  ours  has  been  divinely  lived, 
that  this  robe  of  flesh  and  strange  infirmity  has 
been  Thy  garment.  Teach  us  so  to  live  that 
we  may  not  fear  the  judgment  of  the  world  to 
come,  nor  be  frightened  at  the  flaming  of  eternal 
dawn.  Amen. 


THE   TEMPLE 


He  will      /^\   GOD,   the   Author  of  all  joy,   and    the 


joy  over      <-S      ground  of  all  gladness;  we  thank  Thee 
singing.     t^lat  ^e  *s  to  ^e  crowned  at  last  with  song. 

Sometimes  we  find  it  hard  to  believe  that 
when  the  world  began  the  sons  of  God  shouted 
for  joy,  so  mournful  and  painful  has  proved  the 
course  of  the  world  ;  and  harder  still  to  believe 
that  the  song  of  the  redeemed  shall  overwhelm 
in  its  richness  and  beauty,  the  song  of  the  un- 
sinning  angels. 

We  thank  Thee  that  above  the  sounds  of 
strife  and  pain  sometimes  there  break  strains  as 
of  an  army  marching  in  triumph  ;  and  even  our 
greatest  sadness  finds  a  setting  in  some  old  sweet 
song.  And  because  of  this  we  wait  while  the 
harmonies  gather  out  of  seeming  discord. 

So  we  bring  our  broken  lives  to  Thee,  and 

pray  Thee,  O  Divine  Musician,  win  from  us 

some  mighty  strain,  tune  us  to  the  harmony  of 

Thy  will,  make  all  our  lives  a  hymn  of  praise. 

Amen. 


THE   INNER   COURT 


OGOD,  who  guidest  the  mind  of  man  But  now, 
when  he  thinks  his  thoughts  are  all  his 
own,  and  holdest  his  hand  even  when  he  chooses 
to  walk  alone  ;  may  we  know  that  Thou  hast 
a  purpose  in  our  lives  and  art  leading  us  safely 
and  surely  home. 

Gone  are  the  days  when  we  were  content  to 
live  for  the  passing  hour  and  the  transient  joy  ; 
the  swift  passage  of  our  lives  has  made  us 
afraid.  Darkness  gathers  round  about  us  and  our 
gladness  has  departed,  the  habitations  we  have 
builded  do  not  make  a  home  for  our  souls,  a 
strange  desolation  has  fallen  upon  us,  and 
though  our  day  is  far  spent,  we  have  set  out  to 
seek  the  city  that  hath  foundations. 

We  are  wearied  with  the  knowledge  of  which 
we  were  once  so  proud  ;  we  have  forgotten 
what  we  set  out  to  find  ;  we  know  all  things 
but  the  truth.  We  followed  gleams  of  light, 
but  they  faded  away,  and  all  our  hopes  have 
failed.  We  guided  our  path  by  stars,  but  they 
sank  below  a  horizon  where  we  could  not 
follow,  and  now  our  eyes  wait  for  Thee,  the 
only  Light  of  men. 

Though  Thou  leadest  us  only  to  a  cattle- 
shed,  we  will  follow  all  humbly ;  though  we 
find  only  a  child  lying  in  a  manger,  we  will 
worship  all  reverently  :  no  pride  shall  blind  our 
eyes,  no  fears  shall  turn  us  back,  if  Thou  Thy- 
self wilt  lead  us  on.  Amen. 
53 


THE   TEMPLE 


And  now  S~\  GOD,  we  praise  Thee  that,  though  faith 
abideth  V^x  anj  }ove  botn  f^  Thou  makest  hope  to 
*  *  *  cpe  spring  eternal  in  the  human  breast  ;  so  that 
while  there  is  hope  there  is  life.  Save  us  there- 
fore, we  pray  Thee,  from  the  deadly  sin  of  despair. 

We  thank  Thee  that  when  we  lie  down  and 
desire  that  Thou  shouldst  take  away  our  life, 
there  comes  to  us  the  longing  to  see  at  least 
another  day,  watch  one  more  spring-time,  wait 
one  more  year.  And  when  we  lose  all  faith 
and  sense  of  guidance,  and  blunder  blindly  on, 
an  unseen  hand  guides  every  step  and  leads  us 
as  though  we  still  believed  in  Thee. 

If  any  of  us  are  labouring  under  a  sense  of 
failure,  burdened  with  the  memory  of  broken 
vows  and  duties  left  undone,  or  shamed  by 
yielding  to  temptation,  help  us  once  again  to 
lift  our  eyes  to  the  life  for  which  we  long,  suffer 
us  not  to  give  up  conflict  till  victory  is  won, 
release  us  not  from  the  aspirations  that,  however 
hard  they  seem,  are  the  wealth  of  our  life  and 
the  spring  of  all  existence. 

Grant  to  us  to  dream  great  dreams  and  not  to 
disobey  the  heavenly  vision,  and  though  the 
hope  seem  forlorn  may  we  be  found  ready  to 
lead  it ;  even  though  the  ship  be  sinking  may 
we  never  strike  our  flag. 

However  black  the  night,  let  the  morning 
star  shine  in  the  sky.  Amen. 

54 


THE   INNER   COURT 


O  FATHER,  who  hast  ordained  that  we  be  For 
set  within  a  scheme  of  circumstance,  and  Courage, 
that  in  stern  conflict  we  should  find  our  strength 
and  triumph  over  all  ;  withhold  not  from  us  the 
courage  by  which  alone  we  can  conquer.     Still 
our  tongues  of  their  weak   complainings,  steel 
our  hearts  against  all  fear,  and  in  joyfully  ac- 
cepting the  conditions  of  our  earthly  pilgrimage 
may  we  come  to  possess  our  souls  and  achieve 
our  purposed  destiny. 

It  has  pleased  Thee  to  hide  from  us  a  perfect 
knowledge,  yet  Thou  callest  for  a  perfect  trust 
in  Thee.  We  cannot  see  to-morrow,  we  know 
not  the  way  that  we  take,  darkness  hangs  about 
our  path  and  mystery  meets  us  at  every  turn. 
Yet  Thou  hast  shut  us  up  to  final  faith  in  good- 
ness, justice,  truth  ;  that  loving  these  for  them- 
selves alone,  we  may  find  the  love  that  passeth 
knowledge,  and  look  upon  Thy  face. 

O  suffer  us  not  for  any  terror  of  darkness  or 
from  any  torment  of  mind  to  sin  against  our  souls, 
or  to  fail  at  last  of  Thee.  Amen. 


55 


THE  TEMPLE 


For  En-  /^\  GOD,  who  hast  sent  us  to  school  in  this 
durance*  V^y  strange  life  of  ours,  and  hast  set  us  tasks 
which  test  all  our  courage,  trust  and  fidelity  ; 
may  we  not  spend  our  days  complaining  at 
circumstance  or  fretting  at  discipline,  but  give 
ourselves  to  learn  of  life  and  to  profit  by  every 
experience.  Make  us  strong  to  endure. 

We  pray  that  when  trials  come  upon  us  we 
may  not  shirk  the  issue  or  lose  our  faith  in  Thy 
goodness,  but  committing  our  souls  unto  Thee 
who  knowest  the  way  that  we  take,  come  forth 
as  gold  tried  in  the  fire. 

Grant  by  Thy  grace  that  we  may  not  be 
found  wanting  in  the  hour  of  crisis.  When  the 
battle  is  set,  may  we  know  on  which  side  we 
ought  to  be,  and  when  the  day  goes  hard, 
cowards  steal  from  the  field  and  heroes  fall  around 
the  standard,  may  our  place  be  found  where  the 
fight  is  fiercest.  If  we  faint,  may  we  not  be  faith- 
less ;  if  we  fall,  may  it  be  while  facing  the  foe. 
Amen. 


THE   INNER   COURT 


OTHOU,  who  turnest  the  shadow  of  death  In  all  this 
into   the   morning,  and   makest  the  day  Thy 
dark  with    night,  to  whom  darkness  and  light  of7^/76 
are  both  alike,  come  and  abide  with  us  through  and  pity 
every  experience  of  life.     The   day    is   Thine  is '  never 
when  shines  the  sun  and  all  our  path  is  fair  ;  Jj* 
the   night    is    Thine    when  stars   light  up  the 
vastness  of  Thy    world.     Help  us   neither   to 
weary    of  the   day,   nor  fear    what  night  may 
bring. 

Sometimes  we  turn  from  the  certitude  that 
we  have  in  Thee,  to  follow  vain  shadows  again, 
and  bring  upon  ourselves  anguish  and  confusion  ; 
but  Thou  knowest  where  we  are,  and  at  our 
faintest  cry  of  need  the  valleys  are  exalted, 
every  hill  made  low,  and  a  straight  path  runs 
before  us  to  Thyself. 

When,  perverse  and  foolish,  we  leave  the 
pleasant  paths  of  peace  to  try  the  slippery  way, 
taste  the  bitterness  of  sin,  fall  into  the  mire, 
herd  with  swine,  and  come  at  length  to  loathe 
ourselves  ;  Thine  amazing  love  brings  Thee 
over  the  mountains  of  our  misery,  into  the 
wilderness  where  we  have  wandered ;  seeks 
until  it  finds,  clasps  us  again  to  Thy  pure  breast, 
bears  us  in  Thy  strong  embrace,  and  brings  us 
home  rejoicing. 

Oh  the  depth  of  Thy  mercy,  and  the  wonder 
of  Thy  love  !  Amen. 

57 


THE   TEMPLE 


I  am  the  f^^R  Eternal  Father,  whose  kindness  is  lov- 
Lord,  I  ^-^.,  ing  and  whose  mercy  is  tender,  we  come 
change  to  c^st  <jurselves  upon  Thee,  for  Thou  hast 
made  us.  We  rest  in  the  thought  that  Thy 
love  knows  no  end  nor  change,  else  it  would  not 
love  us  long.  Our  love  knows  so  little  con- 
stancy, it  changes  with  our  moods,  it  proves 
worthless  in  the  hour  of  trial.  We  need  to 
know  that  Thou  art  long-suffering  and  Thy 
patience  endless,  for  we  soon  lose  patience  with 
ourselves.  We  are  so  spoilt  by  prejudice,  so 
blinded  by  pride,  so  dense  to  the  simplest  things. 
"~We  are  burdened  by  things  that  do  not  matter, 
bewildered  by  problems  of  our  own  imagination, 
fearful  at  that  which  does  not  exist.  Thou 
hast  made  us  heirs  of  all  the  ages,  we  stand  at  the 
confluence  of  time,  and  yet  in  many  ways  we 
fall  beneath  the  measure  of  the  men  who  went 
before  us.  Our  vision  is  wider,  but  our  en- 
thusiasm less  ;  our  knowledge  deeper,  but  our 
peace  less  secure  ;  and  we  incline  to  blame  the 
knowledge  and  the  vision,  instead  of  ourselves. 

We  pray  for  strength  for  our  burdens,  wisdom 
for  our  responsibilities,  insight  for  our  times, 
faith  enough  for  the  wider  demand.  Our  God, 
make  us  strong,  make  us  strong. 

Pardon  all  our  littleness,  our  foolishness,  our 
distrust,  our  fickleness  of  spirit.  Give  us  breadth 
like  the  sea,  constancy  like  Christ's,  the  love 
that  passeth  knowledge,  the  peace  that  passeth 
understanding.  Amen. 

58 


THE   INNER   COURT 


GOD,  who  remainest  the  same  though  all  My  life 

else  fades,    who  changest  not  with    our  s^|t 
changing  moods,  who  leavest  us  not  when  we  ii^e°whe 
leave  Thee  ;  we  thank  Thee  that  when  we  lose  wholly 
faith  in  Thee,  soon  or  late  we  come  to  faith  in  i"jj  °* 
something  that  leads  us  back  again  with  firmer 
trust  and  more  security.     Even  if  we  wander 
into  the  far  country  we  take  ourselves  with  us  ; 
ourselves  who  are  set  towards  Thee  as  rivers  to 
the  sea.     If  we  turn  to  foolishness,  our  hearts 
grow    faint   and   weary,  our  path    is   set  with 
thorns,  the  night  overtakes  us,  and  we  find  we 
have  strayed  from  light  and  life. 

Grant  to  us  clearer  vision  of  the  light  which 
knows  no  shade  of  turning,  that  we  stray  not  in 
folly  away  ;  incline  our  hearts  to  love  the  truth 
alone,  so  that  we  miss  Thee  not  at  last ;  give  us 
to  realise  of  what  spirit  we  are,  so  that  we  cleave 
ever  to  Thee,  who  alone  can  give  us  rest  and 
joy.  Amen. 


59 


THE  TEMPLE 


There  He 
is  where 

loved/8 


GOD,  in  whom  we  live  and  move  and  have 
our  being,  enable  us  to  feel  the  strength 
tnat  surrounds  us,  to  follow  the  light  that  in- 
dwells us,  and  to  avail  ourselves  of  the  wisdom 
Thou  givest  liberally  to  all  who  ask  of  Thee. 

Give  to  us  so  great  a  love  of  truth  that  we 
may  pass  beyond  all  doubt  and  error,  until  our 
minds  are  stayed  on  Thee,  and  our  thoughts  are 
kept  in  perfect  peace. 

Give  us  wisdom  to  follow  the  promptings  of 
duty  in  our  daily  lives,  that  we  may  grow  con- 
scious of  Thy  presence  who  workest  hitherto, 
and  callest  us  to  be  fellow-workers  now  with 
Thee. 

Grant  unto  us  the  grace  of  penitence  that  we 
may  not  grow  insensible  to  our  need  of  forgive- 
ness, from  one  another,  and  from  Thee  ;  but 
seek  cleansing  in  communion,  fellowship  in  the 
light,  and  rest  upon  Thy  heart.  Amen. 


60 


THE   INNER   COURT 


OUR  Father,  these  words  concerning  the  I  saw  the 
Eternal  City  most  strangely  move  our  HolyCity. 
hearts.  No  such  city  have  we  ever  seen,  and 
yet  the  story  of  its  painless,  unshadowed  day,  its 
crystal  streams,  its  healing  trees,  makes  us  think 
of  home.  Some  thought  of  such  a  habitation 
where  we  could  dwell  in  light  for  evermore, 
and  separation,  night  and  sorrow  should  be  done 
away,  has  often  stirred  within  us  ;  and  then  the 
fairest  cities  of  earth  have  seemed  to  us  like  cities 
of  dreadful  night. 

We  have  dared  to  hope  that  this  heaven  of 
our  heart's  desire  shall  one  day  be  our  own. 
We  have  even  dreamed  that  here  on  earth  we 
might  help  to  build  that  city's  walls. 

But  there  has  come  to  us  the  awful  fear  that 
we  could  have  no  place  in  such  a  city.  Our 
hostile  spirits,  our  bitter  tempers,  our  selfish 
hearts  would  play  the  traitor  to  any  common- 
wealth of  the  soul.  Heaven  could  never  lie 
about  us,  while  hell  burned  within  the  heart. 
And  yet  we  cannot  be  content  to  take  our  place 
with  those  who  miss  the  gate  and  wander  in  the 
outer  darkness,  homeless  and  hardening  in  hate. 

Our  only  hope,  O   Holy   One,   is   in  Thy 
willingness  to  dwell  with  us,  till  we  are  fit  to 
dwell  in   Thee,  Thou  only  City  of  the  soul. 
Amen. 


61 


THE   TEMPLE 


Life's  just  A  LMIGHTY  Father,  from  whose  bosom  we 
the  stuff    -TV    dropped  into  life  ;  we  know  so  little  of  our- 

soulj  e  se^ves>  °f  t^le  Path  we  tread  or  where  it  leads  ; 
educe  the  but  Thou  knowest,  and  in  this  we  rest.  We 
man.  seem  to  carry  with  us  memories  of  infinite  space 
which  make  this  mighty  frame  of  things  nought 
but  a  narrow  prison  ;  as  if  remembering  better 
things,  we  are  sick  at  the  sadness  we  see  all 
around  us,  and  pained  at  the  evil  we  find  in  our 
hearts.  Yet  soon  the  haunting  recollection  fades 
away  and  we  grow  satisfied,  the  vision  of  purity 
is  lost,  and  we  cease  to  be  surprised  at  sin.  The 
glamour  of  earth  would  teach  us  to  forget  our 
origin,  the  temptations  of  the  world  would  lead 
us  to  sell  our  birthright.  It  is  hard  for  us  to 
understand  that  it  was  Thy  will  that  sent  us 
hither,  so  that  we  might  come  to  know  ourselves 
and  be  prepared  to  share  the  glory  of  Thy  Being. 
Yet  only  thus  believing  can  life  be  bravely  lived, 
or  its  purposes  made  plain. 

Teach  us  then,  O  Father,  not  to  despise  the 
things  of  earth  ;  the  narrow  way,  the  weary  task, 
the  pettiness  of  men  ;  its  trials,  misunderstandings 
and  strife  ;  nor  trifle  with  its  passing  opportuni- 
ties ;  nor  scorn  its  swiftly-ebbing  day.  Enable  us 
to  bear  the  fret  of  care,  to  keep  through  toil  of 
brain  and  hand  unbroken  vigil  of  the  soul.  Help 
us  to  play  our  part  in  the  life  of  our  times  ;  think 
truly,  act  kindly,  strike  a  blow  for  freedom  ;  and, 
having  made  some  heart  glad  for  knowing  us, 
62 


THE   INNER   COURT 


and  leaving  the  world  better  for  our  sojourn  in  it, 
may  we  find  beyond  these  bounds  and  burdens  of 
time,  a  throne  prepared  and  a  crown  held  out  for 
our  reward.  Amen. 


THE   TEMPLE 


For  Sin-  TWTOST  Merciful  and  Compassionate  Father, 
cerity.  1V1  Thou  knowest  our  nature  and  readest  our 
inmost  thoughts,  and  nothing  can  be  hidden 
from  Thee  ;  help  us  then  to  unburden  ourselves 
of  every  disguise  we  wear  before  the  face  of 
man,  and  find  rest  in  being  what  we  are  and 
nothing  more.  Enable  us  to  put  ofl  all  sham 
and  pretence,  so  that  from  henceforth  we  may 
live  a  life  of  freedom  and  sincerity.  Be  patient 
with  any  of  us  who  still  prefer  vain  shows  and 
empty  pride  to  the  shelter  and  refuge  of  truth. 
Leave  us  not  utterly  alone  when  at  length 
we  face  the  disillusionment  of  life  ;  when  our 
dearest  hopes  fade  away  and  ambition  fails  us, 
be  Thou  nigh,  nor  of  Thy  goodness  leave  us  to 
despair. 

We  feel  that  Thy  sheltering  love  has  been 
about  us  all  our  days,  wooing  us  to  better  things, 
but  we  are  conscious  that  ofttimes  we  have 
done  despite  to  Thy  grace,  and  our  foolish  hearts 
have  spurned  the  only  Love  that  would  stoop 
to  such  as  we.  If  Thy  goodness  were  not  in- 
finitely patient,  and  Thy  love  were  not  stronger 
than  our  stubbornness,  we  were  all  lost  and 
undone. 

When,  disappointed  with  ourselves,  sickened 
with  our  sin,  worsted  by  life,  and  wounded  by 
the  world,  we  turn  to  Thee  ;  though  late  the 
hour  and  fled  life's  little  day,  reject  us  not,  for 
pity's  sake.  Amen. 

64 


THE   INNER   COURT 


S  we  have  come  into  this  place  of  prayer,  For  Re- 
out  of  darkness  into  light,  out  of  the  drear  velation. 
night  into  the  shelter  of  home,  out  of  our  loneli- 
ness into  the  fellowship  of  the  saints,  so  may 
we  come,  O  God,  to  Thee ;  from  all  cloud  and 
shadow,    from    all    falsehood   and    unreality,   to 
truth,  to  certainty,  to  the  welcome  of  Thine 
arms  and  the  shining  of  Thy  face. 

May  no  indocility  of  temper,  no  indolence  of 
mind,  no  perversity  of  spirit  cloud  the  vision  of 
Thyself,  or  bar  our  breast  against  Thine  enter- 
ing in.  May  we  dare  to  leave  the  door  upon 
the  latch  to  Truth,  to  Christ,  to  Thee. 

Thou  knowest  all  the  unhappiness  of  our  life, 
its  weariness,  sadness  and  strain,  the  feeling  that 
no  one  cares,  that  the  game  is  nearly  done,  and 
life  can  hold  no  more  light  and  comfort  for  us. 
If  Thou  hast  nothing  more  to  give,  we  are  of 
all  men  most  miserable. 

Make  known  to  us,  we  pray,  the  blessedness 
of  those  who  serve  Thee,  the  joy  of  the  Cross, 
the  rest  of  those  who  wear  Christ's  easy  yoke, 
and  may  we  be  comforted  and  made  glad. 
Grant  us  to  that  last  great  grace  of  life  which 
transforms  all  things  and  renews  the  soul :  the 
sense  of  Thy  friendship  and  nearness,  a  hand  in 
ours,  a  companion  on  the  weary  way,  a  light 
within  the  heart.  So  redeem  the  days  we  have 
wasted,  reveal  the  meaning  of  the  life  we  have  so 
nearly  lost,  lift  from  us  the  melancholy  of  our  mis- 
takes, and  turn  all  our  mourning  into  joy.  Amen. 
65  E 


THE  TEMPLE 


The  In-  IMMORTAL,  Eternal,  Invisible,  who  hidest 
ward  *  Thyself  jn  darkness  and  silence,  who  veilest 
way.  Thy  glory  in  the  lesser  beauty  of  nature  ;  Thy 
form  is  unknown,  Thy  name  we  mortals  dare 
not  utter  ;  yet  Thy  worship  is  truth  and  Thy 
tabernacle  man.  Calm  our  passions,  silence  our 
clamorous  thoughts,  that  we  may  be  still  and 
know  that  Thou  art  God.  Put  out  all  lesser 
lights  that  we  may  see  the  Light  within.  Naked 
in  soul  we  stand  before  Thy  dread  tribunal,  that, 
trembling  there,  we  may  know  no  other  fear ; 
that  gazing  upon  the  face  of  the  Eternal  we 
may  not  fear  the  face  of  man.  Lead  us  through 
the  deeps  of  our  own  nature,  past  the  gateways  of 
thought,  till  face  to  face,  heart  to  heart,  thought 
to  thought,  we  are  in  Thy  presence. 

Break  down  pride,  burn  out  sin,  banish  self. 
May  perfect  love  cast  out  all  fear,  perfect  sacri- 
fice make  an  end  of  sin,  and  Thou,  the  All  in 
all,  smite  down  the  prison  house  of  self  and  set 
our  spirits  free,  in  tune  with  the  Infinite,  at 
home  with  the  Eternal.  Shut  us  in  with  Thy- 
self, O  God.  Amen. 


66 


THE  INNER   COURT 


SHEPHERD  of  Israel,  who  dost  neither  The  Lord 
slumber  nor  sleep,  we  are  the  people  of  J*mY 
Thy  pasture  and  the  sheep  of  Thy  hand.    Fold  ShePhc'd* 
us  safely  in  Thy  love,  lest  we  be  overtaken  by 
the  storm  and  be  lost  in  the  darkness.     And  if 
in  carelessness,  or  curiosity  or  wilful  pride,  we 
should  wander  from  Thy  care,  O  leave  us  not, 
good    Shepherd,   to    our    fate,   but  seek   us  till 
Thou  findest  us,  and  bear  us  home  again. 

Thou  knowest  the  rebellion  that  often  rules  our 
will,  the  instinct  to  rove,  the  desire  for  strange 
scenes  and  the  thirst  for  adventure.  '  How  little 
we  understand  that  the  fold  is  freer  than  the  plain, 
following  Thee  more  adventurous  than  wandering 
at  will,  and  what  in  Thee  seems  to  us  unreason 
and  austerity,  only  Thy  perfect  knowledge  of  what 
we  need,  a  love  for  us  that  passes  understanding. 

Pardon  the  evil  thoughts  we  think  of  Thee, 
and  grant  to  us  wisdom  and  repentance.  Make 
us  to  love  Thy  voice  and  answer  to  the  name 
by  which  Thou  callest  us  ;  suffer  us  not  to  fall 
from  Thy  guidance,  and  may  no  one  pluck  us 
from  Thy  hand. 

Beside  the  still  waters,  through  the  green 
pastures,  and  in  the  valley  where  dark  shadows 
lie,  be  Thou  our  strength  and  shield,  and  may 
we  come  to  find  even  Thy  rod  and  Thy  staff  a 
stay  and  comfort  to  us.  So  shepherd  us  beyond 
the  plains  of  peril  to  the  eternal  fold,  where  we 
may  lie  down  in  safety,  and  go  in  and  out  freely 
for  evermore.  Amen. 


THE   TEMPLE 


For  Re-     f~**  RACIOUS    Father   of  our    spirits,   in    the 

collection,  vJ-  stillness  of  this  worship  may  we  grow  more 
sure  of  Thee,  who  art  often  closest  to  us  when 
we  feel  Thou  hast  forsaken  us.  The  toil  and 
thought  of  daily  life  leave  us  little  time  to  think 
of  Thee  ;  but  may  the  silence  of  this  holy  place 
make  us  aware  that  though  we  may  forget 
Thee,  Thou  dost  never  forget  us.  Perhaps 
we  have  grown  careless  in  contact  with  common 
things,  duty  has  lost  its  high  solemnities,  the 
altar  fires  have  gone  untended,  Thy  light  within 
our  minds  has  been  distrusted  or  ignored.  As 
we  withdraw  awhile  from  all  without,  may  we 
find  Thee  anew  within,  until  thought  grows 
reverent  again,  all  work  is  hallowed,  and  faith 
re-consecrates  all  common  things  as  sacraments 
of  love. 

If  pride  of  thought  and  careless  speculation 
have  made  us  doubtful  of  Thee,  recover  for  us 
the  simplicity  that  understands  Thou  art  never 
surer  than  when  we  doubt  Thee,  that  through 
all  failures  of  faith  Thou  becomest  clearer,  and 
so  makest  the  light  that  once  we  walked  by 
seem  but  darkness.  Help  us  then  to  rest  our 
faith  on  the  knowledge  of  our  imperfection,  our 
consciousness  of  ignorance,  our  sense  of  sin,  and 
see  in  them  shadows  cast  by  the  light  of  Thy 
drawing  near. 

If  Thy  purposes  have  crossed  our  own  and 
Thy  will  has  broken  ours,  enable  us  to  trust  the 
68 


THE   INNER    COURT 


wisdom  of  Thy  perfect  love  and  find  Thy  will 
to  be  our  peace. 

So  lead  us   back   to  meet  Thee  where    we 
may  have  missed  Thee.     Amen. 


THE  TEMPLE 


For  As-  /^V  GOD,  the  Source  of  our  being,  the  Goal 
surance.  \^  of  our  desire,  and  the  Guide  of  these  our 
pilgrim  days  ;  we  have  turned  aside  from  the 
ceaseless  fret  of  life  that  we  may  think  of  all  it 
means  for  us.  We  would  stay  for  a  moment 
the  noisy  shuttle  of  time,  that  we  may  watch 
the  pattern  it  is  weaving.  We  would  hush  our 
busy  thoughts,  that  we  might  learn  in  silence  the 
mysteries  of  our  being. 

Beyond  the  clouds  that  veil  our  sight,  we  feel 
the  sun  must  still  be  shining  ;  behind  the  tangle 
of  human  affairs  some  mighty  purpose  working, 
beneath  the  strange  yearnings  of  our  souls  there 
moves  Thyself,  awful,  vast  and  holy.  Gleams 
of  purpose  have  visited  our  minds,  the  sense  of 
some  great  destiny  accompanies  all  our  thoughts. 
We  have  reason  for  believing  Thou  art  nearer 
than  we  think. 

O  God,  our  Life,  our  Hope,  our  Strength  ; 
leave  us  not.     Make  us  sure  of  Thee.     Disclose 
Thy  purposes.  Make  Thy  way  straight  before  us. 
Amen. 


THE   INNER   COURT 


OGOD,  the  Light  of  all  that  is  true,  the  God  is 
Strength  of  all  that  is  good,  the  Glory  of  ne**er  to 
11    r       •     i  >c  i  i       L  TM_         i_       T»1        us  than 

all  that  is  beautiful,  we  thank   1  hee  that   1  hou  our  own 

hast  put  within  our  minds  some  spark  of  the  soul, 
eternal  flame,  some  desire  after  goodness,  some 
enjoyment  of  whatsoever  things  are  lovely. 

We  thank  Thee  for  the  strength  of  reason  and 
for  all  the  inner  kingdom  of  the  mind  ;  for  every 
thought  that  lifts  us  to  Thyself;  for  every  noble 
desire  ;  for  every  holy  impulse. 

We  thank  Thee  that  Thou  hast  so  framed 
our  hearts  that  our  deepest  instincts  anchor  us  to 
Thee :  that  Thou  hast  so  created  everything,  that 
he  who  loves  the  Truth  can  never  miss  Thee 
at  the  last.  In  all  our  thoughts,  save  us  from 
anxiety,  presumption,  and  fear.  Deliver  us  from 
all  falsehood,  error,  and  prejudice.  And  as  we 
have  gathered  ourselves  to  seek  Thee  afresh  may, 
all  our  doubts  vanish  before  the  shining  of  Thy 
face,  and  as  our  thoughts  are  hushed  to  silence 
now,  may  we  find  Thee  moving  upon  our  minds, 
higher  than  our  highest  thought,  yet  nearer  to  us 
than  our  very  selves.  Inspire,  uplift,  and  comfort 
us,  and  manifest  Thyself,  O  God.  Amen. 


THE  TEMPLE 


In  return-  /^\  GOD  and  Father  of  us  all,  breathe  upon  us 
ing  and  Vy  now  Thine  hallowed  calm  ;  lift  the  burden 
r?be  a  fr°m  our  hearts,  soothe  the  anxieties  of  our 
saved,  minds,  and  send  peace  into  our  souls. 

Forgive  the  disorder,  the  fever,  the  vain  pur- 
pose of  our  lives.  We  have  made  haste  as  those 
who  believe  not.  We  have  been  desperate  as 
those  who  lead  a  forlorn  hope  ;  we  have  not 
trusted  in  Thee  who  workest  evermore.  We 
have  spent  our  days  contrary  to  Thy  plainest 
laws.  Our  eyes  have  been  fixed  to  earth,  and 
rarely  lifted  to  the  hills.  We  have  not  silenced 
ourselves  to  hear,  nor  been  patient  to  understand. 
We  have  been  fretful  as  children,  comfortless  as 
those  who  never  knew  Thee.  We  have  spent 
our  strength  on  things  that  do  not  profit,  and 
laboured  for  the  bread  that  perisheth  ;  while 
Thy  free  and  glorious  gifts  have  lain  near  to  us 
unappropriated  and  often  spurned. 

Help  us  now  to  stand  awhile  in  the  shelter  of 
Thy  shadowing  wings,  and  to  be  still  ;  to  look 
out  again  upon  life  with  new  vision,  that  we 
may  understand  ;  to  wait  for  the  revelation  of 
Thy  will  that  shall  make  us  calm  and  strong. 
Amen. 


C  K*  v*   ;    <Cfc> 
\m 
72 


THE   INNER   COURT 


OGOD,  who  comest  to  us  disguised  in  lowli-  Their 
ness  to  seek  Thy  dwelling  with  the  humble,  jvfj  were 
r  ,  .    J  .,  'holdcn. 

may  false  expectations  not  deceive  us,  nor  pride 

shut  Thee  from  our  hearts. 

If  Thou  comest  dressed  as  Duty,  plain,  drab 
and  undesired,  grant  that  we  may  not  turn  from 
Thy  commands.  Often  the  homely  figure  has 
called  in  vain,  and  only  when  it  passed  we  saw 
its  glory,  all  too  late.  As  neglected  duties  come 
now  to  mind,  help  us  to  go  back  and  faithfully 
discharge  them,  lest  we  stand  at  last  condemned 
before  Thee,  life  beyond  recall,  with  no  joy  of 
having  done  Thy  will  upon  the  earth  to  make  a 
heaven  about  us. 

If  Thou  comest  robed  as  Truth,  white,  relent- 
less and  austere,  may  we  not  fear  to  take  Thee 
as  our  guide.  We  have  often  been  afraid  that 
truth  would  strip  us  naked  to  the  blast.  We 
could  not  bear  the  gaze  that  seemed  to  burn  into 
our  souls.  We  knew  not  that  truth  would  only 
set  us  free  and  fearless,  glad  to  be  what  we  were 
in  Thy  sight,  and  nothing  more.  Help  us  then 
to  welcome  all  the  truth  however  painful  and 
humiliating,  lest  when  we  come  to  gaze  upon 
Thy  glory  our  eyes  have  lost  the  power  to 
see. 

If  Thou  comest  to  us  as  Love,  clothed  in 

flame  and  crowned  with  sacrifice,  may  we  not 

reject  the  offer  of  Thyself  for  dread  of  fire  or 

fear  of  suffering,  lest  we  refuse  that  which  alone 

73 


THE  TEMPLE 


can  cleanse  us,  and  reject  the  love  that  leads 
to  wider  life. 

Let  us  know  Thy  Name,  we  pray  Thee,  lest 
we  be  left  lamed  and  lonely  to  face  the  light  and 
life  of  the  eternal  world.  Amen. 


74 


THE   INNER   COURT 


Father,  tempest- tossed  and  worn   with  God  is  our 
war,  we  turn   to  Thee  in  deepest   need.  Refuge 
Without,  all  is  tumult  and  confusion  ;  within, 
weariness  and  deep  dispeace.    The  storm  has  left 
us  tired  with  watching,  the  strife  has  found  out 
every  weakness,  and  we  long  to  be  at  rest. 

We  want  rest  ;  yet  not  the  rest  of  those  who  sit 
with  idle  hands,  not  the  rest  of  those  who  cease 
from  mental  strife,  not  the  rest  of  those  whose 
ambitions  leave  them  disillusioned  or  content. 
We  want  that  inward  rest  of  soul  which  comes 
to  those  who  share  the  easy  yoke  of  Christ. 

We  need  forgiveness  ;  nought  else  can  meet 
our  case.  The  struggle  has  not  left  us  unscarred, 
our  souls  are  disfigured  and  stained,  and  sin  has 
enfeebled  our  will.  Yet  no  easy  word  of  pardon, 
Lord,  or  promise  of  forgetfulness ;  not  merely 
the  hiding  of  Thine  eyes  or  a  garment  to  cover 
our  shame ;  nothing  but  the  transformation  of 
our  being,  the  cleansing  of  the  heart  by  blood, 
the  weaving  of  a  robe  of  righteousness  from 
repentance  and  renewed  desire. 

We  need  a  refuge,  for  the  tempest  still  is  high, 
and  the  enemy  is  close  at  our  heels.  Yet  not  a 
refuge  from  life,  from  truth,  from  Thee.  We 
want  to  face  life  with  strength  for  all  realities ; 
we  want  to  find  our  refuge  only  in  the  truth  ; 
we  want  to  hide  ourselves  deep  within  Thy 
heart.  Amen. 

75 


THE  TEMPLE 


I  saw  Him  (~^\  GOD,  who  art  so  near  that  nearer  Thou 

and  I          v_x    cannot  be,  whose  Spirit  mingles  with  our 

Him*  I     own  as  sunshme  m  tne  a*r  ?  even  this  does  not 

had  Him  content  us,   unless  we   can  feel  Thy  presence 

and  I         and  see  Thy  light  and  look  upon  Thy  face. 

warrted          We  know  Thou  art  in  our  minds,  yet  Thou 

art  always  a  step  beyond  our  thoughts  ;  and  we 

long  to  speak  with  Thee  as  friend  with  friend. 

In  the  stillness  of  the  chamber,  under  the  silence 

of  the  stars,  we  know  Thou  art ;  but  oh  that 

Thou  couldst  call  us  as  a  mother  calls  her  child. 

We   believe  Thou  art   near,   for  suddenly  our 

hearts  grow  still,  heavenly  thoughts  stir  within 

the  mind,  in  sad  and  lonely  hours  we  smile  and 

know  not  why  ;  but  oh  that  we  could  feel  Thee 

like  the  wind  upon   our  cheeks,   like   the   tide 

about  the  shore,  like  a  hand  within  our  own. 

We  could  understand  Thy  love  if  it  were 
warm  with  our  own  humanity,  we  could  even 
dare  to  love  Thee  if  Thou  wouldst  clothe  Thy- 
self in  our  frail  form  ;  we  could  trust  ourselves 
to  life  if  Thou  couldst  consent  to  walk  our  ways, 
endure  our  sorrows,  and  taste  the  bitterness  of 
death.  Amen. 


THE  INNER  COURT 


THOU  who  art  more  truly  than  can  be  Our 
thought,  and  who  can  be  thought  more  nature 
truly  than  uttered,  silence  seems  the  only  wor-  Jhet/ou 
ship  we  can  bring.     We  call  Thee  holy,  but  how  nature 
poor  is  all  our  thought  of  holiness.    Thy  name  is  taking. 
Love,  but  how  little  we  know  of  what  love  may 
be.     Yet  leave  us  not  to  worship  Thee  dumbly 
and  perplexed  ;  rather  come  to  us  in  kindling 
thought,  and  open  our  lips  to  shew  forth  Thy 
praise.     Stoop   to  our   world   of  sense  that  we 
may  be  lifted  to   comprehend  Thine  ineffable 
nature.     We  thank  Thee  that  high  as  Thou 
art,    Thou   hast  buried  within   us  thoughts  of 
Thyself :  thoughts  of  infinite  and  perfect  good- 
ness, longings  for  a  holiness  that  knows  no  defeat 
of  sin,   promptings  of  a  love  that  puts  self  to 
painless  death.     We   thank  Thee  that  in   the 
fulness  of  time  Thou  didst  gather  man's  blind 
thoughts  and  mingle  them  with  Thine  to  make 
the  Word  Christ  Jesus. 

Now  Thou  art  near  to  us,  all  our  sufferings 
are  Thine,  our  very  sins  are  borne  by  Thee,  and 
in  the  mystery  of  an  eternal  sacrifice  Thou  hast 
atoned  us  unto  Thee,  and  overcome  all  sin  and 
separation. 

Praise  be  unto  Thee,  O  Lord  most  High. 
Amen. 


77 


THE   TEMPLE 


So  are  My  f~^\  GOD,  Thou  knowest  how  our  hearts  yearn 

ways          v_x    after  Thee<     Thou  hast  heard  the  prayers 

than    our  w^ich  plead  for  Thee  to  manifest  Thyself  to  us. 

ways.        And  sometimes  it  has  seemed  that  there  was 

none  to  hear,  and   none  to  answer  us.      For 

when  we  asked  to  see  Thy  power,  we  saw  only 

a  child  set  in  our  midst ;  and  we  felt  we  had 

been  mocked.     Yet  afterwards  we  saw  all  the 

beasts  of  the  field  and  all  the  powers  of  the  earth 

led  captive  by  that  little  child. 

We  prayed  for  a  revelation  of  Thy  glory, 
that  we  might  wonder  and  worship,  and  never 
doubt  again.  And  then  the  sunlight  failed  at 
noonday,  and  outside  a  city  wall  a  lonely  cross 
was  reared  against  a  darkened  sky  ;  and  our  very 
hope  became  despair.  Yet  often  since  we  have 
seen  that  cross  again,  now  an  ornament  of  grace, 
a  holy  symbol  before  which  men  bowed,  a 
banner  of  victory,  and  a  sign  of  faith. 

Men  call  on  Thee  to  give  them  light  on  the 
sufferings  they  are  forced  to  bear,  and  only  the 
more  does  the  sense  of  pain  press  in  upon  their 
hearts.  They  find  it  hard  to  believe  that  pain 
is  the  sign  of  our  progress,  the  promise  that 
all  things  shall  one  day  be  redeemed.  Yet 
we  thank  Thee  that  Thy  revelation  is  break- 
ing through,  and  that  Thy  ways  are  being 
learned. 

O  Thou,  who  travailest  in  us  to  lead  us  to  a 
higher  peace,  who  livest  by  yielding  Thyself  to 

78 


THE  INNER   COURT 


the  uttermost,  who  art  mighty  only  in  mercy, 
and  strong  only  in  humility  ;  reunite  us  to  Thy- 
self,  and    make    Thy    perfect   will    our   own. 
Amen. 


79 


THE  TEMPLE 


His  own  /^\  GOD,  who  cometh  to  us  in  an  hour  when 
received  ^S  we  think  not,  and  in  such  a  way  as  we 
im  not*  jeast  expect .  we  are  au  gathered  to  wait  and 
watch  for  Thy  coming.  Disappoint  us  not  be- 
cause we  disappointed  Thee  when  Thou  earnest 
to  Thine  own  before.  Refuse  not  to  return  to 
us  because  we  knew  not  the  day  of  Thy  visita- 
tion, nor  the  things  that  belonged  to  our  peace. 
We  had  expected  a  king  coming  in  glory,  girt 
with  royal  robes  ;  not  a  wayfaring  man  who 
turned  aside  to  tarry  for  a  night.  We  looked 
for  a  mighty  conqueror  travelling  victoriously, 
who  would  demand  our  submission  in  tones  we 
dared  not  disobey  ;  not  for  a  suppliant  standing 
at  our  gate  pleading  in  lowliness  and  garbed  in 
humility.  We  awaited  one  whose  raiment  would 
shine  like  the  sun  and  whose  crown  was  rich 
with  precious  stones  and  purest  gold  ;  not  one 
clothed  in  mockery  and  crowned  with  thorns. 
We  sought  a  Saviour  whose  magic  touch  would 
heal  all  our  sickness,  whose  medicine  would 
minister  to  a  mind  diseased  ;  we  never  dreamed 
we  might  be  called  to  drink  a  cup  of  tears  and 
share  a  baptism  of  blood. 

Yet  come  again  to  us.  We  look  no  more 
for  seeming  strength  or  outward  power,  but  for 
a  heart  which  cares,  for  a  face  which  answers 
ours.  Amen. 


THE  INNER   COURT 


O  LIGHT  Eternal,  to  whose  dawning  man  TheLight 
lifts  his  darkened  face,  shine  on  us  gathered  °* 
here  to  wait  for  Thee.     Pierce    the  earthborn 
clouds  that  hide  Thee  from  us,  dark  clouds  of 
unbelief,  chill  clouds  of  anxiety,  heavy  clouds  of 
despair.     May  every  heart  that  watches  with  us 
see  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  arise,  with  healing 
in  His  wings. 

Pour  Thy  glory  forth  that  we  may  sec  what 
lies  around  us.  The  light  in  the  valley,  the 
rainbow  in  the  storm,  the  silver  lining  of  the 
clouds.  We  thank  Thee  for  the  dimmest  con- 
sciousness of  Thy  presence  ;  the  trail  of  a  seam- 
less robe  about  us,  a  light  in  the  sky  brighter 
than  that  of  the  sun,  a  burning  of  the  heart,  a 
whisper  in  the  mind. 

But  oh  for  more,  for  the  sunshine  of  Thy 
face  clear  and  radiant ;  the  glory  of  Thy  throne 
resplendent  and  awful ;  the  majesty  of  our  daily 
path  crowded  with  helpfulness,  broadened  with 
opportunity,  a  highway  through  the  desert.  Oh 
for  that  vision  for  lack  of  which  we  perish. 

Is  this  Thy  throne,  an  upreared  cross  ?  Is  this 
Thy  form,  a  bleeding  Lamb  ?  Ah,  Thou  hast 
stricken  us,  heart-whole,  pleasure-loving,  by  this 
dying  love,  the  revelation  of  perpetual  sacrifice. 

We  are  humbled,  we  who  never  bowed  ;  we 

are    broken,  we    who  never  wept ;    yet  let   us 

watch  until  the  mystic  sight  tells  upon  our  souls, 

for  this  is  all  our  life  and  our  salvation.     Amen, 

8l  F 


THE  TEMPLE 


By  con-  S~\  THOU  who  art  light  to  all  that  loves  and 
trition  we  *<-S  £re  to  ajj  t]iat  hates,  let  Thy  glory  shine 
are  made  11  •  IT  i  n 

clean.        upon  us,  that  love  in  us  may  come  to  life  and  all 

our  hatred  be  consumed. 

O  Beauty  of  ancient  days  yet  ever  new,  too 
late  have  we  loved  Thee.  Our  hearts  faint  for 
the  sight  of  Thy  face,  yet  when  we  see  Thee 
we  could  creep  away  and  hide  ourselves  for  very 
shame. 

O  seeking  Saviour  of  our  souls,  we  could  pray 
Thee  to  depart  from  us,  for  we  are  sinful  men  ; 
in  Thy  pure  presence  our  impurities  take  on  a 
deeper  stain.  Yet  leave  us  not,  lest  we  die  in 
our  sins. 

O  Cross  that  art  crimsoned  with  the  cleansing 
love  of  God,  we  would  turn  away  at  sight  of 
thee,  afraid  ;  yet  we  want  this  worn-out  self 
to  die,  and  for  the  new  man  created  after  Christ 
to  rise  in  power. 

Come  then  again  to  our  hearts  :  shine  upon 
us  in  all  Thy  fairness,  burn  Thyself  ineffaceably 
within  :  heal  us,  though  by  pain  ;  save  us,  though 
by  death. 

O  Man  upon  Thy  cross,  we  cannot  turn 
back  now ;  for  our  weakness,  pain  and  need 
are  more  than  we  can  bear  ;  Thy  sorrow  stays 
our  feet,  Thy  suffering  stirs  our  hearts,  Thy 
sacrifice  has  saved  our  souls.  O  Lamb  of  God, 
we  come.  Amen. 

82 


THE   INNER   COURT 


T^ATHER,  Thou  knowest  how  strangely  in  us  Why  art 
*      faith  and  doubt  are  mingled,  how  we  have  to  ^10U  ca** 
do  battle  for  our  highest  things,  and  how  some-  my  SQUJ  p 
times  our  hold  is  very  frail  and  insecure.     But 
Thou  dost  understand.     We  believe  ;  help  Thou 
our  unbelief. 

Sometimes  the  darkest  doubts  assail  us,  but  we 
thank  Thee  so  much  in  life  conspires  to  make 
our  doubt  impossible.  We  have  sometimes  felt 
all  life  sink  down  to  the  darkness  of  an  endless 
night ;  but  when  we  watch  the  setting  sun  fling 
back  its  beams  upon  the  blackest  clouds,  and  make 
them  gloriously  bright,  we  feel  there  is  always 
still  to-morrow. 

Sometimes  our  hearts  are  sad  with  sorrow,  and 
we  want  no  more  of  life  ;  and  then  from  some 
blossoming  bough  a  bird  sings  a  song  of  sweet- 
ness, and  we  know  there  is  nothing  in  our  life 
so  sad  that  it  cannot  be  made  into  music. 

And  now  we  hear  from  far-off  days  a  rumour 
that  Jesus  the  pure  and  tender-hearted  has  risen 
from  the  tomb  where  He  was  buried,  and  shewed 
Himself  alive.  And  as  we  wait  together  here  we 
know  that  it  is  true.  For  our  hearts  are  burning 
with  His  presence  and  our  faith  breaks  forth  to 
flame.  Amen. 


THE  TEMPLE 


Mani*        /^V  GOD,  so  near,  yet  so  invisible  to  our  dim 

fasted  in     \^      eves  .  so  beautiful,  yet  whom  we  dare  not 

*  e    es  *  look  upon  ;  the  dweller  in  the  innermost,  and  yet 

unknown  to  our  distracted  thought  :  how  wilt 

Thou  reveal  Thyself  to  us  ? 

The  pure  in  heart  see  Thee,  but  purity  we 
could  never  claim.  The  sinless  might  endure 
Thy  gaze,  but  we  should  surely  perish  at  the 
sight.  The  loving  might  know  Thee,  but  we 
find  love  too  hard  for  us. 

Couldst  Thou  not  appear  to  us  through  the 
things  we  can  see  ?  Lead  us  beyond  the  glory 
of  the  sunset  to  the  gates  of  Thy  high  place. 
Speak  to  us  through  the  sighing  of  the  wind. 
Let  Thy  peace  come  down  with  the  twilight 
and  the  stars. 

O  that  Thou  wouldst  wear  our  human  form, 
and  look  on  us  with  eyes  majestic  and  a  smile  that 
bade  us  hope.  If  Thou  wouldst  walk  our  ways 
and  taste  our  sorrows,  and,  O  dear  God,  endure  the 
torment  of  our  sin  ;  then  we  might  see  Thee. 

Who  art  Thou,  O  lowly  toiler  at  the  bench  ; 
why  walkest  Thou  alone  with  burdened  heart ; 
how  came  those  thorns  upon  Thy  brow,  and 
whence  these  drops  of  blood  ? 

My  Lord  and  my  God  !  My  Love  I  can  no 
more.  Holy,  Holy,  Holy,  the  whole  earth  is 
full  of  Thy  glory ;  glory  be  to  Thee,  O  Lord 
most  high.  Amen. 


THE   INNER   COURT 


OST   pure,  most   wise,  most   holy,   before  Con- 

whom    the   angels  veil    their   faces,    th 
saints  confess  their  sinfulness,  and  the  disputer  by 
is  silent  at  last ;  how  shall  we  dare  to  enter  glance  of 
Thy  presence  ?     How  foolish  seem  our  highest  ^oc** 
thoughts  ;  how  trifling  the  things  for  which  we 
strive  ;  the  very  thought  of  Thee  makes  all  else 
seem  poor.     And  when    we  draw  near  to  Thy 
burning  throne,  old   forgotten  sins  come   back 
to  mind,  wounds  that  will  not  heal  throb  again 
with  pain,  and  hidden  evil  tells  its  tale  in  flame 
upon  our  face. 

Ofttimes  we  have  sought  an  easier  way.  We 
have  determined  to  remain  without  Thee  ;  away 
from  the  searching  light,  sheltered  by  the  friendly 
dark ;  only  to  be  smitten  with  desire  to  see 
Thy  face,  and  with  enough  and  to  spare  of 
the  bread  that  perisheth,  still  hungering  after 
Thee  in  our  starving  souls.  We  cannot  do 
without  Thee. 

They  told  us  of  an  easier  way,  through  Christ 
the  Saviour  who  Himself  would  bear  our  sins. 
Yet  when  we  looked  on  Him  we  saw  our  sins  as 
we  had  never  done  before  ;  for  the  way  He  wore 
our  nature  makes  us  ashamed  for  all  that  we  have 
ever  been.  They  said  His  cross  would  save  us ; 
it  has  only  poured  contempt  on  all  our  pride  and 
utterly  broken  our  hearts. 

Yet,  O  our  Father,  we  have  learned  enough  to 
know  this  is  the  only  way  ;  and  so,  with  all  our 

85  ' 


THE   TEMPLE 


doubts  and  fears,  our  failures  and  our  cowardice, 
we  come.  We  do  not  ask  that  pain  be  spared  us, 
if  only  we  may  see  Thy  face.  We  will  not  turn 
from  the  cross,  if  only  it  lift  us  to  Thee.  Amen. 


86 


THE  EVENING  SACRIFICE 


Let  my  prayer  be  set  forth  before  Thee  as  incense, 

and  the  lifting  up  of  my  hands 

as  the  evening  sacrifice. 

— Psalm  cxli.  2. 


THE   EVENING   SACRIFICE 

pTERNAL  Father,  we  come  to  Thee  at  the  Even- 
***     close  of  day  when  from  olden  time  men  song, 
have  always  turned  aside  to  seek  Thy  face.    With 
strange  rites,   by    different   names,  beside  cruel 
altars  they  made  their  prayer,  and  though  more 
light  has  come  to  us,  and  we  may  have  grown 
wiser  than  they,  our  need  continues  still  the  same. 

We  would  make  to  Thee  our  evensong  for 
the  fair  beauty  of  the  day,  for  the  Sabbath  rest 
of  our  spirits,  for  sacred  memories  and  thoughts 
of  holiness,  and  for  this  evening  hour  made 
solemn  by  Thy  peace. 

Yet  we  need  a  peace  far  deeper  than  the  world 
can  give.  For  never  does  departing  day  find  us 
fit  for  rest  till  we  have  cleansed  ourselves  by 
secret  intercourse  with  Thee.  There  haunt  us 
at  this  hour  memories  of  duties  unperformed, 
promptings  disobeyed,  deeds  of  kindness  and  of 
pity  that  we  have  left  too  late  ;  words  untrue, 
acts  unkind,  thoughts  impure  ;  the  stain  of  these 
is  on  us  all.  And  as  the  sense  of  unfading  light, 
of  spotless  purity,  of  long-suffering  love  steals 
upon  us,  it  makes  us  all  the  more  ashamed.  If 
this  be  Thy  coming  to  us,  gracious  Lord,  come 
nearer  still,  till  selfishness  is  burned  from  our 
breasts,  our  minds  are  purged  from  error,  and 
our  wills  lose  all  their  weakness  in  union  with 
Thine  own.  Amen. 


THE  TEMPLE 


Restofthe  T  IKE  pillow  to  tired  head,  like  light  to  watch- 
weary.       J—     ing  eyeS)  like  wine  to  fainting  heart,  be 


Thou  our  God  to  us  this  night. 

Wearied  by  the  conflict  of  life,  worn  by  the 
burden  of  the  day,  we  seek  Thee  as  our  resting 
place.  May  Thy  eternal  calm  descend  upon  our 
troubled  spirits  and  give  us  all  Thy  peace.  Amid 
the  treacherous  sands  of  time  Thou  standest  still, 
the  Rock  of  Ages.  In  life's  desert  places  Thou 
art  a  spring  whose  waters  never  fail. 

We  turn  from  our  perplexities,  our  imperfec- 
tions, and  our  sins  to  Thine  infinite  perfection, 
goodness  and  beauty  ;  like  men  who  turn  from 
dusty  toil  to  cleansing  streams,  like  those  who 
raise  their  eyes  from  the  city's  foul  and  narrow 
streets  to  snow-clad  mountains  and  the  light  of 
stars. 

Appear  to  our  waiting  eyes,  welcome  us  with 
outstretched  arms,  clasp  us  to  Thy  heart.  Amen. 


90 


THE  EVENING  SACRIFICE 

A  LMIGHT  Y  Father,  whose  care  for  us  is  un-  Restless 
4*     sleeping,  whose  love  passeth    knowledge, tfl1  we 
and  whose  mercy  takes  away  despair  ;  we  turn  Thee? 
to   Thee   because   apart    from    Thee  we   have 
neither  light,  nor  rest,  nor  strength.     An  infi- 
nite desire  cries  out  within  us  that  only  Thyself 
can  satisfy.     We  are  ashamed  for  our  failures, 
we  chafe  at  our  limitations,  we  fret  within  the 
chains  of  sin.     We  feel  there  is  something  more 
for  us,  and  we  want  to  be  free.     We  know  there 
is  something  higher,  and  we  want  to  be  lifted 
there. 

Come  nearer  to  us  than  we  have  ever  known. 
May  Thy  voice  startle  us  from  sleep,  may  Thy 
call  rouse  us  from  death.  If  we  are  living  for 
self,  flash  in  upon  our  minds  the  vision  of  the 
cross  ;  if  we  are  living  carelessly  and  in  sin,  may 
the  Christ  call  us  back  this  night,  and  whatever 
we  need,  do  Thou  Thyself  answer  and  satisfy. 
Amen. 


THE   TEMPLE 


An  Even^  S~\  LORD  our  God,  we  come  at  the  sweet 
ing  Con-  \^S  cjose  of  fay  to  Thee,  our  Eternal  Light, 
DIU  our  refuge  in  all  generations.  We  thank  Thee 
for  Thy  power  so  unimaginably  great,  greater 
than  our  failure,  our  sin,  or  our  rebellion.  Most 
of  all  do  we  thank  Thee  for  the  love  which  all 
our  foolishness  has  never  tired  ;  the  love  which 
makes  all  Thy  dealings  with  us  mercy  ;  the  love 
which  never  despairs  ;  the  love  that  thinketh  on 
us  only  for  good  ;  the  love  that  one  day  shall 
gather  every  wanderer  home. 

Some  of  us  have  grown  weary  with  the  heat 
and  burden  of  the  day.  Be  a  strength  and  cheer 
to  us  now.  Lead  us  where  quiet  waters  flow. 

Some  of  us  have  been  unfaithful  to  our  great 
calling,  have  slunk  from  the  field  in  the  height 
of  the  conflict,  have  missed  our  Leader,  blurred 
our  vision,  lost  our  ideals.  Come  to  us  with 
visions  of  victory,  nerve  us  afresh  for  the  fray. 

Some  of  us  have  been  proud  and  rebellious, 
have  preferred  our  own  will,  loved  to  see  and 
choose  our  path,  and  are  in  danger  of  losing  life, 
missing  the  great  secret,  and  laying  up  for  our- 
selves a  harvest  of  remorse  in  days  to  come. 
May  Thy  tender  grace  soften  us,  Thy  love  win 
us,  the  knocking  of  a  pierced  hand  persuade  us 
to  open  the  door.  Come  and  abide  with  us. 
Be  our  guest  this  night.  Nay,  take  Thy  right- 
ful place  :  be  the  host  of  our  waiting,  lonely 
hearts.  Amen. 

92 


THE  EVENING  SACRIFICE 

AyT  OST  Compassionate  Father,  whose  tender  Evening 
-*•*•*•    mercy  is  over  all  Thy  works,  we  gather  brings  us 
ourselves  to  Thy  Name,  and  seek  to  realize  Thy 
presence  at  this  evening  hour.     We  are  weak, 
weary,  and    sinful,    but    Thou    dost  know  our 
frame  and  pitiest  our  frailties,  for   Thou  didst 
make  us.     We  bring  our  sins  to  Thee,  for  Thou 
art  gracious  and  full  of  compassion,  that  in  the 
light  of  Thy  face  they  may  melt  away. 

Like  children  who  gather  to  hear  the  old 
stories  again  at  nightfall,  we  want  to  hear  the 
story  of  Thy  love,  the  story  of  Jesus  and  His 
cross.  Like  mourners  who  seek  to  forget  in 
sleep  their  sorrow  and  their  loss,  we  want  to 
lose  our  griefs,  our  sadness  and  ourselves  in  Thee. 
Like  dwellers  on  the  heated  plains  who  lift  their 
eyes  to  distant  hills,  so  do  we  lift  our  hearts  to 
the  thought  of  Thee,  the  Pure  and  Holy. 

Receive  us,  shelter  us  under  Thy  wings,  hide 
us  in  Thy  heart.  Amen. 


93 


THE  TEMPLE 


He  that 
kcepeth 
thee 
will  not 
slumber* 


o 


CARE  unsleeping,  Love  unchanging. 
Light  unfading  ;  in  Thee  is  all  our  strength 
and  hope.  If  thou  didst  think  no  more  of  us 
when  we  thought  no  more  of  Thee,  how  soon 
we  should  perish.  If  Thy  love  depended  on  our 
loveliness,  we  could  hope  nothing  from  Thee. 
If  Thy  light  was  gloomed  by  our  unfaithfulness, 
how  swift  and  irrevocable  our  night  would  be. 

Thou  art  so  near  us,  yet  we  miss  Thee,  and 
often  think  Thee  far  away.  The  path  runs 
straight  enough  to  Thee,  yet  we  lose  our  way. 
The  knowledge  of  Thee  is  clear  in  us  all,  yet 
we  are  uncertain,  and  so  easily  deceived.  Thy 
truth  is  so  simple,  and  yet  it  is  too  hard  for  us. 

We  turn  to  Thee  because  our  feeling  of  dis- 
content, our  sense  of  sin,  our  restlessness  witness 
that  Thou  hast  not  left  us.  We  silence  our 
thoughts  to  feel  Thee,  we  hold  our  eyes  to 
watch  for  Thee. 

Come,  as  noiseless  as  the  light,  and  steal 
within.  Brood  upon  the  deep  with  peace  and 
calm.  Touch  us  with  Thy  hand  that  we  may 
turn  and  see  Thy  face.  Amen. 


94 


THE   EVENING  SACRIFICE 

PATHER  of  Light,  Sun  of  the  Soul,  when  Sun  of  my 
*  the  shadows  of  twilight  fall  and  darkness  sou*» 
ends  the  day,  our  thoughts  turn  to  Thee  who 
dwellest  where  night  never  comes.  It  fills  us 
with  quiet  trust  to  know  that  somewhere  the 
truth  is  always  clear,  however  clouded  it  appear 
to  us  ;  that  there  is  a  light  that  does  not  fade 
when  we  lose  sight  of  it.  Shine  through  the 
mists  of  our  mortality  and  through  the  deeper 
gloom  of  our  sin,  that  the  night  for  us  may  hold 
no  fears. 

If  we  have  lost  our  way  in  doubt,  so  that  we 
despair  of  Thee,  may  the  light  that  lighteth 
every  man  shine  the  clearer  within  us  now,  and 
in  Thy  light  may  we  see  light. 

And  if  we  have  turned  aside  to  try  the  ways 
of  darkness  and  death,  and  fear  the  light,  because 
of  what  it  may  reveal,  or  hate  it  because  our 
deeds  are  evil ;  yet  leave  us  not,  but  lead  us 
back  by  the  kindly  lights  of  home,  till  in  Thy 
flame  our  sins  are  consumed  and  in  the  light  of 
Thy  countenance  we  rest  in  peace.  Amen. 


95 


THE   TEMPLE 


Light  at  (~\  FATHER,  we  thank  Thee  for  the  rest  of 
evening  \-S  thjs  sacrec[  day,  and  for  the  benediction 
of  the  eventide.  To  every  one  of  us  may  Thy 
peace  be  granted.  If  the  day  has  been  wearying, 
may  the  darkness  bring  refreshing  sleep.  If  any 
mind  has  been  plagued  with  perplexity,  may 
there  be  light  for  such  at  evening  time.  If  the 
quiet  of  departing  day  has  made  us  conscious  of 
our  sin,  may  forgiveness  fold  around  us,  and  may 
we  find  the  shelter  and  cleansing  of  Thy  love. 

If  bitter  thoughts,  angry  clamour  and  passion- 
ate words  have  disturbed  the  day  of  rest,  may 
there  creep  back  into  the  mind  the  sweet 
peace  of  penitence.  If  we  have  closed  and 
barred  the  door  of  our  hearts  against  unwelcome 
truth,  may  it  steal  back  by  secret  paths  and 
find  its  way  within. 

If  we  have  sought  Thee  despairingly  and 
think  not  to  have  found  Thee,  may  we  hear  the 
voice  that  says  :  Beloved,  thou  couldest  not  have 
sought  Me  if  I  had  not  found  thee.  Amen. 


THE   EVENING  SACRIFICE 

OGOD,  who  from   the   beginning  of  the  In  the 
world  hast  walked  with  man  in  the  CooH°olofthe 
of  the  day,  come  to   commune  with   us  now 
•  this  eventide,  and  may  no  fear  or  shame  lead 
us  to  hide  ourselves  from  Thee.     Since  Thou 
knowest  already  our  inmost  thoughts  and  beareth 
still  to  us  a  love  wherewith  we  dare  not  love 
ourselves,  may  we  consent  to  walk  with  Thee 
in  the  garden  Thou  hast  planted  for  our  souls. 

If  any  of  us  have  come  to  the  end  of  this  day 
faint  with  struggle  and  worn  with  failure,  con- 
fessing ourselves  worsted  and  our  strength  de- 
parted, just  as  we  give  up  all  may  we  find  Thy 
comfort  in  our  hearts,  feel  Thy  presence  at  our 
side,  and  gird  ourselves  again  for  battle. 

If  any  of  us  have  searched  for  truth  till  our 
minds  are  wearied,  and  sadness  has  crept  into 
our  eyes,  as  we  relinquish  the  task  and  yield 
ourselves  to  despair,  may  we  find  the  light 
dawning  within,  and  grow  sure  of  Thee  who 
art  ever  near.  Amen. 


97 


THE  TEMPLE 


Be  still,  /^  FATHER,  we  are  gathered  together,  a 
and  know  v^  company  of  men  and  women,  unknown  to 
God.  *  one  an°ther,  yet  each  known  to  Thee.  Some 
cannot  think  what  has  brought  them  hither  : 
old-time  custom,  unconscious  habit,  something 
in  the  evening  sky,  a  desolation  in  the  heart ; 
knowing  not  that  it  was  Thyself  who  callest 
everywhere  and  movest  in  all.  Some  of  us  are 
only  conscious  of  our  ignorance,  aware  of  the 
hopeless  poverty  and  confusion  of  our  thoughts. 
Help  us  to  understand  that  this  is  because  in  the 
secret  places  of  the  mind  we  touch  the  wisdom 
of  Thy  mighty  mind  and  overhear  Thy  glorious 
thoughts.  Some  of  us  are  saddened  and  per- 
plexed by  the  ugliness  and  misery  around  us. 
Help  us  to  understand  that  this  is  because  we 
have  seen  the  holy  city  descending  out  of  heaven. 
Some  of  us  are  in  despair  because  of  unworthi- 
ness  and  sin.  Grant  us  to  know  that  only  in 
Thy  light  could  these  shadows  be  discerned. 

As  stars  come  out  when  the  sun  goes  down, 
strange  music  sounds  when  the  quiet  of  evening 
comes,  and  voices  are  heard  in  the  silence  which 
were  drowned  in  the  noise  of  the  day,  so  let  us  be 
silent  now  until  Thy  presence  grows  more  real 
and  we  find  both  doubt  and  desire  but  heralds  of 
Thy  drawing  nigh.  Amen. 


THE  EVENING  SACRIFICE 

T  ORD  of  the  night  as  of  the  day,  we  thank  The  night 
*~*  Thee  that  the  gathering  darkness  so  often  l^o is 
speaks  to  us  of  Thee.  It  is  when  the  light  of 
day  is  done  that  we  often  grow  more  conscious 
of  the  purer  light  that  shines  within.  The  clos- 
ing hours  of  day  beget  in  us  a  tenderness  towards 
eternal  things.  A  feeling  of  homelessness  moves 
our  feet  to  seek  for  Thee,  our  only  rest.  The 
memory  of  unnoticed  sins  comes  back  to  mind,  and 
we  long  for  nobler  life.  We  become  like  the  chil- 
dren who  put  off  their  garments  gladly,  who  wait 
to  hear  again  some  oft-told  tale,  who  feel  they 
must  unburden  their  hearts  to  some  listening  and 
forgiving  heart.  Be  near  us  now,  O  Father. 

O  Thou,  who  often  standest  before  us,  when 
for  the  holding  of  our  eyes  we  behold  Thee  not, 
help  us  to  know  Thee  near  in  the  darkness  of 
doubt  and  fear.  Save  us  from  despairing  of  the 
age  that  presses  round  us  with  its  questions  and 
denials,  and  help  us  to  see  in  every  perplexity  of 
faith  but  the  prelude  to  some  further  coming  of 
the  Son  of  Man.  Turn  us  again  and  cause  Thy 
face  to  shine  upon  us,  and  we  shall  be  saved. 

And  when  we  stand  within  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  and  bid  a  sad  farewell  to  those  who 
journey  down  its  depths  alone,  or  when  we  our- 
selves look  back  for  the  last  time  with  longing 
eyes,  and  then  move  onward  with  what  hope  we 
may,  then  let  us  find  what  seemed  to  us  such 
hopeless  night  only  the  shadow  cast  by  an  eternal 
dawn.  Amen. 

99 


THE  TEMPLE 

To  walk 


A  S  the  quiet  splendour  of  the  day  dies  down, 

we  wait  for  the  shininS  of  the  LiSht  that 
never  fades.     We  step  aside  from  the  crowded 

highway  to  seek  the  garden  of  the  soul  where 
Thou  keepest  tryst  for  us  at  cool  of  day.  We 
have  looked  into  the  worn  faces  of  men,  into  the 
eyes  of  those  who  love  us,  and  now  we  look  for 
the  face  of  the  Son  of  Man  that  we  may  rest. 
We  have  seen  an  end  of  all  perfection  ;  show  to 
us  now  the  glory  of  the  cross,  where  failure 
becomes  victory,  and  the  bitterness  of  sin  dis- 
solves in  tears  of  penitence.  Call  us  from  all 
that  distracts  ;  gather  us  into  the  quiet  of  Thy 
love  ;  meet  with  us,  O  Father,  for  we  seek  Thy 
face.  Amen. 


100 


THE   EVENING  SA-CPJ:FIC;B 

THOU  who  companiest  with  us  even  when  He  went 
we  know  it  not,  shepherdest  us  in  shadowed  in  to  tarry 
valleys  when  we  think  Thee  far  away,  and  often  them, 
with  us  sojournest  unrecognised  ;  disclose  Thy- 
self to  us  this  evening  hour,  we  pray.  Apart  from 
Thee  all  life  is  joyless,  all  minds  are  restless,  all 
hearts  loveless.  Dare,  O  Lord,  to  tabernacle 
with  us,  unworthy  as  we  are  ;  and  though  Thou 
preferrest  before  all  temples  the  contrite  heart, 
and  grantest  only  to  the  pure  the  vision  of  Thy 
face,  yet  leave  us  not  alone  with  our  pride,  nor 
shrink  from  contact  even  with  our  sin.  Only 
Thy  light  can  make  us  lowly  ;  the  sight  of  Thee 
alone  will  show  us  what  we  are.  Lift  then  upon 
us  the  light  of  Thy  countenance  ;  draw  near  and 
abide  with  us,  for  it  is  toward  evening,  and  the 
day  is  far  spent.  Amen. 


101 


THE  TEMPLE 


The  light  /^\UR  God,  who  art  the  Father  of  our  spirits, 

shinethin  Vy    when  evening  falls  and  strange   feelings, 

darkness.  ancjent  fearS)  obstinate  questionings,  rise  within 

us,  we  turn  to  Thee,  who  alone  holdest  the 

secret  of  Thine  own  creation. 

We  believe  some  kindly  purpose  lies  beyond 
our  coming  into  the  world  :  not  chance,  nor  fate, 
nor  punishment  can  explain  life  ;  but  only  love. 
We  feel  sure  of  this  because  of  Thy  word  in  our 
hearts,  and  because  of  Thy  Word  made  flesh. 

We  have  stood  before  a  lonely  cross  whereon 
one  died,  despised  and  rejected  of  men,  and  there 
we  have  learned  how  pain  and  death  need  bring 
no  defeat  to  Thy  purposes,  and  hold  no  contra- 
diction of  Thy  love. 

Thou  has  placed  within  our  trembling  hands 
the  strands  of  life  whose  issues  are  in  eternity. 
How  shall  we  live  aright ;  we  who  are  sinful, 
weak,  wilful  ?  Be  very  merciful  to  Thy  children, 
Father.  The  lessons  of  life  are  difficult  unless 
one  interpret  to  us.  Give  us  to-night  Thine  in- 
terpretation of  all  that  we  are,  and  arc  destined 
yet  to  be.  So  shall  we  realize  Thy  salvation  and 
be  glad  in  Thee  all  our  days.  Amen. 


1 02 


THE   EVENING  SACRIFICE 

A  S  the  sounds  of  day  die  away  and  the  silent  Fast  falls 
*"*    night  creeps  on,  may  Thy  calm,  O  God,  ^e  even- 
possess  our  souls.     As  the  storms  of  passion  cease,  *  e* 
may  our  hearts  reflect  Thy  love  as  the  sleeping 
sea  the  sky.    As  our  restless  thoughts,  tired  out, 
give  up  their  fruitless  quests,  may  truth  be  dis- 
entangled  in  the   mind   and    light  shine    clear 
through  its  untroubled  depths. 

As  the  light  of  sunset  fades  and  the  stars  steal 
into  the  evening  sky,  so  do  Thou  come  into  our 
hearts,  noiseless  and  unheralded,  save  that  we 
grow  conscious  Thou  art  there. 

When  the  instinct  of  home  draws  all  things 
that  have  learned  to  love,  may  the  turning  tide 
set  towards  Thee,  and  may  we  find  ourselves 
steering  for  the  shore,  the  Pilot  on  board,  and 
ere  the  night  comes  down,  anchored,  safe  home 
in  port. 

We  wait,  we  still  our  minds,  we  hush  our 
spirits.  Come,  gracious  Spirit,  come.  Amen. 


103 


THE   TEMPLE 


Sunday  ^\UR  Father,  we  gather  to  Thy  name  as  a 
evening,  \^s  noly  day  passes  once  more  in  shadow 
away.  Forbid  that  we  should  think  any  day 
less  holy  than  this,  any  hour  less  fleeting.  May 
the  solemnity  of  the  hour  recall  us  to  the  fact 
that  this,  like  all  other  days,  is  the  judgement 
day.  May  we  not  be  under  the  delusion  that 
this  is  not  the  critical  and  decisive  hour. 

May  we  not  fail  to  recognize  Thy  presence 
with  us  now,  and  may  that  open  our  eyes  to 
Thy  presence  everywhere.  Thou  rarely  comest 
to  us  as  King  of  Kings,  as  Lord  of  Lords  ;  but 
oftenest  as  truth,  or  duty,  a  stranger  seeking 
shelter,  a  little  child,  a  lonely  dying  man. 

May  we  not  spurn  to  do  the  simple  thing  ; 
to  make  submission  of  our  spirits,  to  speak  the 
prayer  of  our  hearts  ;  lest  this  should  be  the  day 
of  Thy  visitation,  and  we  miss  the  things  that 
belong  to  our  peace.  Amen. 


104 


THE   EVENING  SACRIFICE 

T^ATHER  of  us  all,  at   this  hour  when  the  Vigil 
*      solitary  are  set  in  families,  men  gather  again  Sr^6. 
under  the   old   roof,  and  wanderers  and  exiles 
think  longingly  of  home,  we  think  of  Thee  the 
home  of  us  all,  of  the  hearth  fire  of  Thy  love 
where  all  are  welcome,  of  that  last  great  Christ- 
mastide  when  He  who  was  the  Babe  of  Bethlehem 
shall   have   gathered  all  souls  together  one  un- 
broken family,  not  one  missing. 

May  the  solemn  associations  of  this  hour  be 
blessed  to  all  of  us  this  Christmas  Eve.  May 
kind  thoughts  find  lodging  in  the  hardest  heart, 
may  longing  for  purity  be  born  in  minds  that 
are  unclean,  may  the  lonely  and  the  labouring 
hear  the  angels  sing  to-night. 

We  are  all  still  children,  our  Father ;  our 
knowledge  and  our  years  drop  from  us  all  to- 
night. We  gather  to  Thee,  as  long  ago  to  our 
mother's  knee.  Let  us  hear  again  the  wonderful 
story  of  Thy  love,  let  us  listen  to  the  songs  of 
heaven,  and  in  the  light  of  Thy  forgiveness 
have  all  our  doubts  and  sins  and  fears  dispelled. 
Amen. 


105 


THE   TEMPLE 


Christ- 
mas 
Evening* 


God,  we  who  are  poor  and  lowly  are 
met  to  worship  Thee  the  High  and  Holy. 
Yet  our  minds  are  fearless  and  our  hearts  at  rest, 
for  in  Christ,  the  holy  Child,  the  Son  of  Man, 
the  Crucified,  Thou  hast  become  to  us  Immanuel, 
God  for  ever  with  us. 

We  are  gathered  for  evening  prayer,  but 
prayer  turns  to  praise  upon  our  lips,  for  we  have 
naught  to  ask  of  Thee.  Thou  hast  spoken  to 
us  so  simply,  Thou  hast  come  to  us  so  fully,  we 
can  never  doubt  or  want  again. 

The  angels  sing  no  more  above  the  cradle 
of  the  Christ,  but,  a  greater  wonder  still,  man 
learns  their  song,  and  soon  it  shall  swell  to  the 
skies  a  mighty  melody,  the  harmony  of  all 
earth's  thousand  tongues. 

We  need  not  leave  our  homes  to  seek  by  star- 
light some  far-off  shrine,  for  the  Babe  is  no 
longer  Bethlehem's  pride  and  Mary's  joy,  but 
the  whole  wide  world's,  and  the  blessed  burden 
of  every  heart  that  makes  Him  room. 

Here  we  dedicate  our  rediscovered  treasures, 
gold  of  royal  love,  frankincense  of  holy  inter- 
cession, myrrh  of  healing  sympathy,  and  bear 
them  forth  to  bless  all  birth,  and  to  make  at  every 
cradle  a  carol  of  welcome  and  a  solemn  service 
of  the  Christ.  Amen. 


106 


THE   ALTAR   OF   INCENSE 


Golden  bow  Is,  full  of  incense^ 
which  are  the  prayers  of  the  saints. 

—Rev.  v. ; 


THE   ALTAR   OF  INCENSE 

INTERNAL,  Holy,  Almighty,  whose  name  is  In  every 
+"*    Love  ;  we  are  met  in  solemn  company  to  Place  in' 
seek  Thy  face,  and  in  spirit  and  truth  to  worship  skaii  be 
Thy  name.     We  come  in  deep  humility,  since  offered  to 
Thou  art  so  high  and  exalted,  and  because  Thou  My  name* 
beholdest   the   proud   afar   off.      We   come  in 
tender  penitence,  for  the  contrite  heart  is  Thy 
only    dwelling.     We    come    in   the  name   and 
spirit  of  Jesus  to  make  our  wills  one  with  Thine  ; 
to  abandon  our  lonely  and  selfish  walk  for  solemn 
communion  with  Thee,  to  put  an  end  to  sin  by 
welcoming  to  our  hearts  Thy  Holy  Presence. 
Deeper  than  we  have  known,  enter,  Thou  Maker 
of  our  souls ;  clearer  than  we  have  ever  seen, 
dawn  Thy  glory  on  our  sight.    Light  the  flame 
upon  the  altar,  call  forth  the  incense  of  prayer, 
waken  the  song  of  praise,  and  manifest  Thyself 
to  all.     Amen. 


109 


THE   TEMPLE 


Vigil  of  (~\  SPIRIT  of  the  Living  God,  breathe  upon 
Pentecost.  *<-S  this  assembled  company  Thy  gracious 
power.  Come  to  us  as  long  ago  upon  the  deep. 
Disturb  our  sleep,  our  pride,  our  apathy,  and 
may  those  of  us  who  have  never  before  been 
conscious  of  our  need,  suddenly  find  ourselves 
hungering  for  Thee.  Come  upon  us  like  a 
flame  of  fire.  Cleanse  us  from  moral  pollution 
and  from  mental  darkness.  Search  deep  within, 
that  to  the  core  of  self  we  may  be  clean. 

Come  to  us  as  Thou  earnest  to  Jesus,  con- 
straining as  a  mother's  love,  giving  us  a  new 
gentleness  and  grace,  making  us  long  for  fellow- 
ship with  all  mankind,  willing  to  bear  the  sins 
of  the  race. 

Come  to  us  as  a  rushing  mighty  wind,  scatter- 
ing the  mists  of  our  doubt,  stirring  our  spirits  to 
health  and  action,  sweeping  aside  the  fears  that 
have  held  us  in  captivity. 

Come,  Holy  Spirit,  Come. 
Amen. 


no 


THE   ALTAR   OF  INCENSE 

GOD,  at  whose  commanding  word  light  Let  there 
first  sprang  from  darkness,  we  pray  for  the 
spreading  of  that  light  till  the  day  break  and  the 
shadows  flee  away. 

Send  light  unto  our  inmost  souls,  we  pray, 
lest  some  cherished  iniquity  shut  Thine  ears  to 
our  prayers.  Let  the  sunshine  of  Thy  love  stir 
our  sterile  natures  into  fruitfulness,  and  win  from 
our  stubborn  soil  a  plenteous  harvest  of  heavenly 
grain.  Illumine  the  unknown  tracts  of  our 
natures,  that  hidden  powers  may  come  to  light 
and  yield  their  service  to  Thy  kingdom. 

Shed  light  upon  the  dark  places  of  the  earth 
that  the  habitations  of  violence  may  be  destroyed : 
let  human  misery  melt  away  before  the  rising 
of  the  Sun  of  Righteousness. 

Grant  light  upon  the  problems  that  perplex 
the  mind  of  man,  dispel  the  night  of  doubt  and 
fear,  and  for  the  eyes  that  wait  may  morning 
dawn.  Amen. 


in 


THE   TEMPLE 


Before 
they  call 
I  will 
answer. 


GOD  of  all  wisdom,  who  knowest  our 
needs  before  we  ask,  and  art  more  ready 
to  give  than  we  are  to  receive ;  pardon  our 
pitiful  worship  and  the  peevishness  of  our 
prayers.  We  have  nothing  we  can  offer  Thee 
except  ourselves,  and  that  is  less  than  nothing. 
Yet  because  Thou  didst  make  us  and  dost  love 
us,  we  yield  ourselves  to  Thee,  as  we  are,  with 
all  our  struggles,  our  failures  and  our  aspirations. 

We  have  so  often  prayed  for  things  that 
afterwards  we  found  would  do  us  harm.  We 
have  asked  Thee  to  save  us  from  the  pain 
and  penalty  of  our  sin  ;  but  now  we  feel  there 
is  nothing  for  us  to  do  but  leave  ourselves  in 
Thy  hands,  and  no  safe  prayer  for  such  as  we 
but  that  Thy  will  be  done. 

We  have  sometimes  wished  we  might  become 
righteous  in  a  moment,  our  sanctification  sud- 
denly accomplished  ;  that  our  desires  could  be 
fulfilled  without  this  weary  wrestling  of  our 
will.  Yet  now  we  know  the  hunger  after 
righteousness,  the  upward  toil,  the  way  of  prayer 
and  penitence  is  the  only  way,  safe  for  us,  and 
sure  to  lead  at  last  to  Thee. 

Sometimes  we  have  prayed,  Hide  Thy  face 
from  our  sins  ;  but  now,  Set  them  in  the  light 
of  Thy  countenance,  be  unto  them  as  a  con- 
suming fire.  Amen. 


112 


THE   ALTAR   OF   INCENSE 

GOD,  forgive  the  poverty,  the  pettiness,  Lord, 

the  childish  folly  of  our  prayers.     Listen, teach  us 
i         J        •  i       to  pray, 

not  to  our  words,   but  to   the  groanmgs   that 

cannot  be  uttered ;  hearken,  not  to  our  peti- 
tions, but  to  the  crying  of  our  need.  So 
often  we  pray  for  that  which  is  already  ours, 
neglected  and  unappropriated  ;  so  often  for  that 
which  never  can  be  ours ;  so  often  for  that 
which  we  must  win  ourselves  ;  and  then  labour 
endlessly  for  that  which  can  only  come  to  us  in 
prayer. 

How  often  we  have  prayed  for  the  coming  of 
Thy  kingdom,  yet  when  it  has  sought  to  come 
through  us  we  have  sometimes  barred  the  way ; 
we  have  wanted  it  without  in  others,  but  not 
in  our  own  hearts.  We  feel  it  is  we  who  stand 
between  man's  need  and  Thee  ;  between  our- 
selves and  what  we  might  be  ;  and  we  have  no 
trust  in  our  own  strength,  or  loyalty,  or  courage. 

O  give  us  to  love  Thy  will,  and  seek  Thy 
kingdom  first  of  all.  Sweep  away  our  fears, 
our  compromise,  our  weakness,  lest  at  last  we  be 
found  fighting  against  Thee.  Amen. 


113  H 


THE  TEMPLE 


I  am  the  INTERNAL  holy  Love,  God  most  high,  we 
Way*  l->  Seek  to  worship  Thee  not  only  in  words 
and  outward  form,  but  in  the  depths  of  our 
spirit  and  in  truth.  We  have  only  one  offering  ; 
it  is  our  poor  selves ;  we  give  Thee  but  Thine 
own.  We  know  only  one  way  to  Thee  :  the 
way  of  Jesus,  the  attitude  of  sonship  and  of 
childlike  trust. 

The  perplexities  of  our  strange  natures  drive 
us  to  Thee.  We  cannot  understand  ourselves. 
Glorious  gleams  and  darkest  shadows  chase 
across  our  hearts  ;  conflicts  rage  there  while  we 
stand  helpless  aside  ;  within  is  no  rest,  without 
is  no  hope.  Unless  Thou  canst  rest  us,  O  our 
God,  we  are  exiles  of  eternity,  homeless  in 
infinite  space. 

The  path  to  Thee  has  been  tortuous  and 
steep,  our  prayers  fashioned  in  agony  and  moist- 
ened with  tears.  Help  us  to  see  that  the  path 
as  well  as  the  goal  is  Thyself ;  the  prayer  Thine, 
as  the  answer  is  Thine.  End  our  search  by 
beginning  Thine.  Steal  upon  us  like  the  grace 
of  summer  evenings,  like  the  dew  on  parched 
ground,  like  warm  winds  from  sunnier  lands. 
Lift  our  eyes  to  the  hills,  touch  our  aspirations, 
rest  our  longings  in  Thyself;  for  Thou  hast 
made  us.  Amen. 


114 


THE   ALTAR   OF   INCENSE 

GOD,  whose  Spirit  searcheth  all  things,  and  Without 

whose  love  beareth  all  things,  encourage  f°rtitude 
j  ^r>u        •        •          v  j   *     we  can^ 

us  to  draw   near   to  Thee  in  sincerity  and  in  not 


truth.     Save  us  from  a  worship  of  the  lips  while  the  truth. 
our  hearts  are  far  away.     Save  us  from  the  use- 
less labour  of  attempting  to  conceal  ourselves 
from  Thee  who  searchest  the  heart. 

Enable  us  to  lay  aside  all  those  cloaks  and 
disguises  which  we  wear  in  the  light  of  day  and 
here  to  bare  ourselves,  with  all  our  weakness, 
disease  and  sin,  naked  to  Thy  sight. 

Make  us  strong  enough  to  bear  the  vision  of 
the  truth,  and  to  have  done  with  all  falsehood, 
pretence,  and  hypocrisy,  so  that  we  may  see 
things  as  they  are,  and  fear  no  more. 

Enable  us  to  look  upon  the  love  which  has 
borne  with  us  and  the  heart  that  suffers  for  us. 
Help  us  to  acknowledge  our  dependence  on 
the  purity  that  abides  our  uncleanness,  the 
patience  that  forgives  our  faithlessness,  the  truth 
that  forbears  all  our  falsity  and  compromise. 
And  may  we  have  the  grace  of  gratitude,  and 
the  desire  to  dedicate  ourselves  to  Thee.  Amen. 


THE  TEMPLE 


Via  S->L  LIGHT  of  the  world,  shine  upon  us,  O  Sun 

lucis*8' Via  ^~>^  °f  our  sP1<rits)  reveal  to  us  Thy  comfort  and 
Thy  glory.  We  have  sought  for  the  light  that 
never  fades,  for  the  glory  that  is  never  dimmed, 
that  our  eyes  might  be  gladdened  and  the  path 
of  life  made  bright  ;  and  ofttimes  found  but 
darkness.  The  things  that  men  rejoice  in, 
the  world's  fame  and  power  and  riches,  bring 
no  glory  that  endures.  We  have  seen  the  morn 
that  promised  fair  turn  to  desolate  and  weeping 
noon,  the  crimson  of  the  sunset  sky  has  faded  to 
the  chill  of  night,  and  the  majestic  glittering 
heavens  strike  cold  upon  our  sight. 

And  so  we  come  back  to  the  things  we  have 
neglected,  to  the  common  tasks,  the  stern  com- 
mands of  conscience,  the  sacrifice  of  love.  We 
take  the  path  that  once  we  turned  from,  and 
climb  mount  Calvary.  Surely  this  dolorous  way 
is  the  path  of  light  ;  we  see  the  glory  of  God  in 
the  face  of  the  Man  of  Sorrows  ;  the  solemn 
shadow  of  His  cross  is  better  than  the  sun. 

Here  where  Man  has  triumphed  and  Thy 
great  heart,  O  Father,  is  opened,  we  gather  in 
adoring  wonder  at  Thy  glory,  and  in  deep  con- 
trition at  our  own  cowardice,  failure,  and  loveless 
lives.  Amen. 


116 


THE   ALTAR   OF   INCENSE 

THOU  that  hearest  prayer,  to  Thee  shall  Our  fail- 

all  flesh  come.     Before  ever  our  yearning  |,ng  *?f  , 
i_       L     i  i_    T^L        i_  XT    dreadful : 

has  broken  into  speech,  1  hou  hearest  us.     Noourfauing 

secret  sigh  of  discontent  escapes  Thy  listening  is  shame* 
ear.     No  silent  resolve  on  higher  things  but  is  ^f 
granted  the  assistance  of  Thy  grace.     We  come 
to  Thee  who  already  knowest  us  altogether  ; 
ourselves,  our  hearts,   our  minds,  our  lives,  all 
shall  be  our  prayer.     Like  desert  travellers  we 
have  thirsted  after  Thee,  and  Thou  knowest 
that  thirst  is  Thine  own  creating.     O  satisfy  us 
early  with  Thy  mercy. 

/  We  Would  spread  before  Thee  all  the  spiritual 
deadness  of  our  nature,  the  careless  content,  the 
unheeding  soul,  the  short-sighted  vision.  Thou 
hast  made  all  Thy  glory  to  pass  before  us.  We 
heard  the  thunder,  we  felt  the  fire,  but  Thy  still 
small  voice  of  calm  we  were  too  deaf  to  hear. 
O  quicken  us  by  Thy  coming,  breath  of  God. 

We  confess  to  Thee  that  which  has  seared 
our  conscience  ;  hours  of  riotous  rebellion  which 
have  left  their  mark,  habits  of  self-indulgence 
whose  power  grows  greater  with  the  years,  selfish 
determination  to  make  life  minister  only  to 
ourselves. 

O  come,  great  Deliverer.  Make  known  to 
us  Thy  great  salvation.  Plant  within  us  the 
cross  of  Thy  dear  Son.  May  its  pain  awaken 
and  save  us  all.  Amen. 

117 


THE  TEMPLE 


Let  not      (~**  REAT    Shepherd    of    Thy    people,    who 
Thy  VJ    knowest  all,  and  callest  us  by  that  secret 

dread         name  which  unlocks  the  heart  to  Thy  presence, 

make  me  r  .       .  .    c     rwJ  ] 

afraid*       we  are  folded  together  and  wait  for  Thy  coming. 

Take  us  one  by  one  and  shut  us  in  with  Thy- 
self. Light  in  every  heart  some  overwhelming 
vision  of  Thyself.  Draw  us  apart  to  be  with 
Thee. 

Ofttimes  Thou  hast  called  us,  but  our  ears 
have  been  dulled  with  other  cries  ;  now  make 
us  deaf  to  every  voice  but  Thine.  We  are  each 
one  living  alone,  despite  our  friendship  and  our 
common  life.  We  have  feared  to  walk  in  desert 
places,  we  have  loved  the  garish  day,  we  have 
been  afraid  to  be  left  alone  with  ourselves,  lest 
long-stifled  voices  should  speak  something  we 
dreaded  to  hear.  We  have  been  afraid  of  Thee  ; 
afraid  because  we  do  not  truly  know  Thee. 
Thou  hast  been  to  us  as  the  darkness  is  to 
children,  as  the  dread  unknown  to  the  fearful 
and  untravelled  soul. 

Come  to  us  through  the  silence,  in  the  night, 
meet  us  in  the  desert,  or,  if  we  shun  the  lonely 
way,  meet  us  in  the  crowd,  reveal  Thyself  in 
the  intercourse  of  life,  speak  above  the  tumult  in 
thunder  to  our  souls.  Amen. 


118 


THE  ALTAR   OF  INCENSE 

OTHOU  who  art  of  purer  eyes   than    to  For  For- 
behold  iniquity,  canst  Thou  bear  to  look  giveness. 
on   us   conscious   of   our    great    transgression  ? 
Yet  hide  not  Thy  face  from  us,  for  in  Thy  light 
alone  shall  we  see  light. 

Forgive  us  for  the  sins  which  crowd  into  the 
mind  as  we  realize  Thy  presence  ;  our  ungovern- 
able tempers,  our  shuffling  insincerities,  the 
craven  fear  of  our  hearts,  the  pettiness  of  our 
spirits,  the  foul  lusts  and  fatal  leanings  of  our 
souls.  Not  for  pardon  only,  but  for  cleansing, 
Lord,  we  pray. 

Forgive  us,  we  beseech  Thee,  our  unconscious 
sins  ;  things  which  must  be  awful  to  Thy  sight, 
of  which  we  yet  know  nothing.  Forgive  by 
giving  us  in  fuller  measure  the  awakening  of 
Thy  presence,  that  we  may  know  ourselves,  and 
lose  all  love  of  sin  in  the  knowledge  of  what 
Thou  art. 

Forgive  us  for  the  things  for  which  we  can 
never  forgive  ourselves ;  those  sad  turned 
pages  of  our  life  which  some  chance  wind  of 
memory  blows  back  again  with  shame  ;  for  the 
moment  of  cruel  passion,  the  hour  beyond  recall, 
the  word  that  went  forth  to  poison  and  defame, 
the  carelessness  that  lost  our  opportunity,  the 
unheeded  fading  of  bright  ideals. 

Forgive   us    for  the   things  that   others   can 
never  forgive;    the  idle  tale,  the  cruel  wrong, 
the     uncharitable     condemnation,    the     unfair 
119 


THE  TEMPLE 


judgement,  the  careless  criticism,  the  irrespon- 
sible conduct. 

Forgive  us  for  the  sins  of  our  holy  things  ; 
that  we  have  turned  the  sacred  page  without 
a  sigh,  read  the  confessions  of  holy  men  and 
women  and  never  joined  therein,  lived  in  Thy 
light  and  never  prayed  to  be  forgiven  or  rendered 
Thee  thanksgiving  ;  professed  to  believe  in  Thee 
and  love  Thee,  yet  dared  to  injure  and  hate. 

Naught  save  being  born  again,  nothing  but  a 
miracle  of  grace,  can  ever  be  to  us  forgiveness. 
Cleanse  our  hearts,  renew  our  minds,  and  take 
not  Thy  Holy  Spirit  from  us.  Amen. 


120 


THE  ALTAR  OF  INCENSE 

INTERNAL  God,  who  hast  formed  us,  and  For 
4^  designed  us  for  companionship  with  Thee  ;  Under- 
who  hast  called  us  to  walk  with  Thee  and  be  not  s 
afraid  ;  forgive  us,  we  pray  Thee,  if  craven  fear, 
unworthy  thought,  or  hidden  sin  has  prompted 
us  to  hide  from  Thee.  Remove  the  suspicion 
which  regards  Thy  service  as  an  intrusion  on 
our  time  and  an  interference  with  our  daily  task. 
Shew  to  us  the  life  that  serves  Thee  in  the  quiet 
discharge  of  each  day's  duty,  that  ennobles  all  our 
toil  by  doing  it  as  unto  Thee.  We  ask  for  no 
far-off  vision  which  shall  set  us  dreaming  while 
opportunities  around  slip  by  ;  for  no  enchant- 
ment which  shall  make  our  hands  to  slack  and 
our  spirits  to  sleep,  but  for  the  vision  of  Thyself 
in  common  things  for  every  day  ;  that  we  may 
find  a  Divine  calling  in  the  claims  of  life,  and 
see  a  heavenly  reward  in  work  well  done.  We 
ask  Thee  not  to  lift  us  out  of  life,  but  to  prove 
Thy  power  within  it ;  not  for  tasks  more  suited 
to  our  strength,  but  for  strength  more  suited  to 
our  tasks.  Give  to  us  the  vision  that  moves,  the 
strength  that  endures,  the  grace  of  Jesus  Christ, 
who  wore  our  flesh  like  a  monarch's  robe  and 
walked  our  earthly  life  like  a  conqueror  in 
triumph.  Amen. 


121 


THE  TEMPLE 


And  with  f\  GOD,  who  art  visible  only  to  the  pure  in 
all  thy  \^s  heart,  and  can  be  known  only  by  such  as 
love  the  truth ;  cleanse  our  inward  minds,  we  pray 
Thee,  from  all  insincerity  and  self-deception. 
Strengthen  in  us  the  appeal  of  all  that  is  true 
and  beautiful,  that  evil  may  lose  its  power  over 
us  and  sin  be  trampled  underneath  our  feet. 

Help  us  by  discipline,  by  industry  and  prayer, 
to  refine,  enlarge,  and  rightly  employ  the  minds 
Thou  hast  given  to  us,  and  may  these  days  of 
deeper  knowledge  not  leave  us  in  danger  of 
greater  condemnation,  because  we  have  failed  to 
be  true  to  the  light  we  see.  Make  our  bodies 
Thy  temple  and  our  minds  Thine  altar  where 
the  sacred  flame  is  ever  burning.  Amen. 


122 


THE  ALTAR   OF  INCENSE 

INTERNAL  Father,  most  real  when  most  in-  In  this 
**    visible,  most  near  when  we  think  Thee  far  °u*  dav 
away,  most  clearly  conceived  when  we  acknow-  ration, 
ledge  Thee  to  be  incomprehensible  ;  speak  to  us 
not  only  from  the  past,  but  from  the  living  pre- 
sent, not  only  from  the  awful  silences,  but  in 
every  tumultuous  thought,  not  only  from  the 
clouds  that  veil  Thy  heavenly  throne,  but  from 
Thine  image  graven  on  the  heart  of  man. 

While  our  thoughts  of  Thee  grow  wider,  may 
we  remember  how  vaster  still  Thou  art,  and  may 
we  seek  to  grow  more  sensible  of  Thy  presence 
and  to  reflect  Thee  more  purely  in  our  lives. 

Help  us,  O  King  of  Ages,  in  these  changing 
times  and  these  troubled  days.  Lose  not  care  of 
us  when  we  lose  sight  of  Thee.  Still  hold  us 
fast  when  faith  is  feeble  and  knowledge  is  con- 
fused. If  our  thoughts  of  Thee  should  grow 
doubtful  and  Thine  image  within  be  dimmed, 
may  we  unconsciously  fulfil  Thy  will.  Help 
us  to  remember  that  it  is  not  to  him  that  think- 
eth,  but  to  him  that  doeth,  that  Thy  will  is 
known.  Help  us  to  believe  that  Thou  abidest 
beyond  all  change,  and  art  always  better  than  our 
highest  hopes,  greater  than  our  noblest  thoughts. 
Amen. 


123 


THE   TEMPLE 


For  Intel'  ]W[  OST  Holy  Father,  we  thank  Thee  for  the 
lectual  iVl  inner  kingdom  of  the  mind,  for  the  glories 
bincenty,  Wj1;c|1  eye  j^h  not  seen  nor  ear  heard.  We 
thank  Thee  for  Thy  footprints  in  creation  and 
for  Thy  glory  in  the  face  of  man.  Save  us,  we 
pray,  from  all  sins  of  intellect ;  not  only  from  the 
error  and  ignorance  which  belong  to  our  frailty, 
but  from  prejudice  and  all  unreason,  from  mental 
insincerity,  from  lack  of  rational  control,  and 
from  blasphemy  against  the  Holy  Spirit.  Help 
us  through  sincerity,  singlemindedness,  and  en- 
thusiasm to  enter  the  kingdom  that  is  open  to 
all  believers. 

Give  us,  above  all,  grace  and  endurance  to 
plant  Thy  kingdom  in  the  world  in  which  we 
live,  by  love  of  truth,  by  striving  after  justice, 
by  following  fearless  wherever  light  may  lead, 
and  by  giving  ourselves,  if  needs  be,  even  unto 
death.  Amen. 


124 


THE  ALTAR  OF  INCENSE 

IMMANUEL,  God  for  ever  with  us,  help  His  re- 
us  to  make  a  place  for  Thee  to  reign  within  turning 
our  hearts,  to  build  in  these  our  days  that  city  way* 
where  Thou  shalt  dwell  with  men,  and  sin  and 
darkness,  pain  and  sorrow,  shall  be  no  more. 

We  thank  Thee  that  Christ  cometh  to  us 
ever  more  manifest  and  more  victorious.  We 
pray  that  this  age  may  become  as  the  highway  of 
our  God  ;  may  the  desires  that  stir  among  the 
people  exalt  every  valley  and  make  every  moun- 
tain low. 

When  we  grow  contented  with  the  things 
that  are,  send  us  again  the  prophet's  word. 
When  we  soil  our  souls  with  sin,  open  then  in 
our  midst  the  cleansing  fountain.  When  in 
our  selfishness  we  sell  men  into  bondage  and 
humble  our  women  with  shame,  come  again 
from  the  ranks  of  those  who  toil ;  from  the  lands 
that  are  in  darkness,  from  our  despised  Nazareths, 
raise  up  the  Deliverer.  When  we  grow  proud 
of  our  petty  knowledge,  and  can  no  longer  stoop 
to  learn  Thy  ways,  send  us  a  child  again,  a  new 
generation  springing  from  the  uncorrupted  source 
of  things,  and  lead  us  back  to  a  sane  mind,  a 
sincere  heart,  and  a  simple  life. 

Though  poor  be  the  chamber,  shrink  not  from 
its  lowliness ;  abhor  not  the  womb  of  our 
humanity ;  be  born  again  in  us,  assume  our 
flesh  and  lift  us  to  Thyself.  Amen. 

125 


THE  TEMPLE 


Watch  (^\  LORD,  may  we  not  imagine,  because 
therefore,  V-^  the  world  is  old  and  worn,  that  all  things 
shall  continue  as  they  are,  and  we  can  comfort 
our  hearts  and  take  our  ease.  We  cannot  tell  at 
what  moment  hidden  fires  may  flame  forth  and 
consume  the  habitations  we  have  builded  for  our 
souls.  May  we  not  be  found  wanting  at  the 
testing  time  ;  all  we  have  laboured  for  prove  like 
stubble  to  the  flame  ;  the  foundations  we  have 
chosen,  only  sinking-sand. 

Though  the  days  drift  dreaming  by,  may  we 
not  conclude  they  count  for  naught.  Help  us 
to  remember  that  the  book  of  life  is  being 
written,  the  account  is  being  rendered,  the 
harvest  is  ripening,  the  sickle  is  thrust  in,  the 
axe  is  at  the  root  of  the  tree,  the  judge  is  at  the 
gate.  May  we  be  counted  worthy  to  stand 
before  the  Son  of  Man,  and  to  abide  His  com- 
ing who  is  like  a  refiner's  fire. 

We  see  the  long  content  of  the  peoples  break- 
ing down.  We  hear  voices  that  challenge  all 
that  men  have  counted  final,  fixed  and  sure  ;  the 
foundations  of  things  are  shaken,  men's  hearts 
are  failing  them  for  fear.  Enable  us  to  lift  up 
our  heads  because  our  redemption  draweth  nigh, 
to  trim  our  lamps,  and  at  the  midnight  cry  go 
forth  to  meet  the  Bridegroom.  Amen. 


126 


THE  ALTAR   OF  INCENSE 

OTHOU,  the  Hope  of  Israel,  the  Saviour  Thy 
thereof  in  time  of  trouble,  why  shouldest  Kingdom 
•-nu        I.  •  -i-  c    •       come. 

1  nou  be  as  a  sojourner  with  us,  as  a  wayfaring 

man  who  turneth  aside  to  tarry  for  a  night  ? 
Thou  art  in  the  midst  of  us  ;  leave  us  not.  Thou 
who  hast  set  the  hope  of  Thy  revelation  in  the 
hearts  of  all,  manifest  Thyself  to  us.  Thou 
who  hast  spoken  in  times  past  by  the  prophets 
and  in  the  fullness  of  time  hast  revealed  Thyself 
in  one  who  was  a  Son,  enable  us  to  realize  that 
Thou  abidest  with  us  always.  Dwell  with  us 
in  glorious  splendour,  enthrone  Thyself  among 
the  nations,  walk  in  our  midst,  and  be  to  us 
Immanuel.  Amen. 


127 


THE   TEMPLE 


First  Sun-  (^  RE  AT  Father,  we  thank  Thee  that  we  have 
day  in  vJ-  not  to  wajt  for  Thine  advent,  for  all  history 
n  *  is  Thy  coming,  and  Thou  art  here.  From  the 
hour  when  Thy  Spirit  stirred  the  dark  primeval 
deep  till  Jesus  by  the  bench  and  on  the  moun- 
tain top  cried,  "Abba  Father,"  our  world  has 
been  growing  more  conscious  of  Thy  presence. 
And  yet  we  wait  for  something  more  ;  strange 
hopes  stir  the  hearts  of  men  and  passionate  prayers 
break  forth  from  their  lips.  Can  it  be  that  this 
further  revelation  waits  upon  our  faith  and  rests 
with  our  endeavour  ? 

We  have  grown  unconscious  of  our  need,  be- 
come accustomed  to  things  remaining  as  they  are  ; 
ceased  to  desire  things  different,  lost  our  vision 
and  are  ready  to  perish.  Worst  of  all,  we  have 
found  ourselves  unwilling  to  pay  the  price  of 
better  things.  We  have  desired  Thy  coming, 
but  not  through  us,  we  have  sought  a  salvation 
that  would  leave  ourselves  still  unchanged  ;  we 
have  prayed  that  Thy  will  might  be  done,  but 
we  have  shrunk  from  doing  it  first  and  alone. 

Stand  Thou  before  us  like  the  light,  like  love 
all  lovely,  like  the  morning.  Then  surely  we 
shall  hinder  Thee  no  more.  Amen. 


THE   ALTAR   OF   INCENSE 

OGOD,  for  whose  advent  Thy  weary  world  Second 
has  waited  long,  save  us  lest  in  these  latter  Sunday  in 
days  the  hope  of  Thee  grow  dim,  and  we,  for- 
getting to  watch  with  lamps  trimmed  and  loins 
girded,  find  ourselves  unprepared  to  meet  Thee, 
when  at  midnight  comes  the  cry. 

For  we  know  our  hopes  cannot  lie.  In  the 
past  we  can  discern  that  Thou  hast  surely  come  ; 
in  the  prophets  and  in  the  Word  made  flesh  ;  in 
the  downfall  of  empires,  and  the  rising  of  the 
peoples  ;  in  the  strange  thoughts  that  stir  the 
world,  in  the  dawning  sense  of  brotherhood. 
But  not  yet  dost  Thou  wholly  dwell  amongst  us. 

We  mourn  the  misunderstandings  and  sus- 
picions that  arm  the  nations,  the  growing  aliena- 
tion and  strife  between  class  and  class,  our  failure 
to  find  a  common  faith  or  a  religion  to  unite  us 
all.  Come  and  heal  our  divisions,  and  enable  us 
to  find  that  one  highway  along  which  we  may 
march  together  to  the  Promised  Land. 

Grant  that  we  may  be.  found  with  those  pro- 
phets and  forerunners  who,  knowing  the  mind  of 
God  and  the  times  of  His  restoration,  prepared 
the  way  of  the  Lord. 

Forbid  that  when  Thou  comest  Thou  should- 
est  not  find  faith  upon  the  earth.  Amen. 


129 


THE   TEMPLE 


Third  /^\  DESIRE  of  nations,  long-expected  Christ, 
Sunday  in  \-s  when  wilt  Thou  appear  amongst  us  in  Thy 
glory  ?  Thy  coming  in  humility  brought  great 
gladness  and  peace  to  those  who  waited  for  the 
kingdom,  but  how  few  of  all  mankind  know  that 
Thou  hast  come,  and  fewer  still  have  learned  to 
walk  Thy  ways.  Something  more  than  this  was 
promised,  something  more  has  kept  the  advent 
hope  living  in  the  hearts  of  men.  Yet  the  cen- 
turies pass,  and  men  ask,  Where  are  the  signs  of 
his  coming  ?  Wars  and  rumours  of  wars  still  vex 
the  nations,  the  peoples  rise  and  pass  away  in 
darkness  and  confusion,  the  peasants  sow  the 
fields  but  others  take  their  harvest,  craftsmen 
build  houses  but  others  dwell  therein,  in  crowded 
dens  the  sempstress  sews  the  garment  she  may 
never  wear.  Again  and  again  the  people  have 
struck  at  their  fetters  and  risen  for  their  liberties  ; 
but  their  victories  fell  from  their  hands  and  their 
chains  are  riveted  afresh. 

Yet  we  feel  Thou  art  at  hand  :  hope  still  is 
strong.  The  highway  is  being  exalted,  the  stones 
are  being  cast  out ;  the  people  lift  their  heads 
believing  their  redemption  draweth  nigh. 

May  Thy  coming  not  be  to  us  as  a  thief  in 
the  night,  may  we  not  be  numbered  among  the 
tribes  that  mourn  when  the  signs  of  the  Son  of 
Man  appear.  Amen. 


130 


THE   ALTAR   OF  INCENSE 

MOST  merciful  Father,  strengthen  our  faith  Fourth 
we  beseech  Thee,  lest  we  fail  to  endure 
to  the  end,  and  miss  Thy  great  salvation.  The 
days  hang  heavy  on  our  hands,  the  evening 
often  finds  the  morning  promise  unfulfilled,  and 
hope  deferred  makes  sick  the  heart.  Sometimes 
we  fear  we  cannot  hold  out  much  longer. 

O  God,  make  haste  to  help  us. 

We  have  hailed  with  high  enthusiasm  some 
mighty  movement  which  should  set  the  peoples 
free,  only  to  see  the  battle  go  against  the  right- 
eous cause,  to  find  its  principles  betrayed  for  a 
handful  of  silver,  its  lofty  dreams  dispersed  before 
the  cold  unyielding  facts  of  life.  And  still  the 
faces  of  the  poor  are  ground,  men  labour  for 
naught,  and  one  slavery  rises  from  the  ruins  of 
another. 

When  wilt  Thou  save  the  people  ? 

We  have  striven  to  follow  Jesus  Christ,  we 
have  tried  to  forgive  our  enemies,  we  have  hum- 
bled ourselves  before  haughty  and  cruel  men  ; 
but  we  have  not  changed  their  hearts.  Kind- 
ness has  been  met  by  cruelty,  confidence  by 
betrayal,  trust  by  mean  advantage,  hopes  by  dis- 
appointment. We  are  tempted  to  despair  of 
Christ's  slow  and  patient  ways. 

Let  not  our  hearts  harden  into  stone. 

We  have  gathered  with  those  who  love  the 
Name  of  Jesus,  we  have  sought  the  communion 
of  saints,  the  fellowship  of  the  Church,  only  to 


THE   TEMPLE 


find  the  world  entrenched  therein  ;  men  earnestly 
contending  for  the  faith  they  do  not  believe, 
praying  prayers  they  hope  will  never  be  an- 
swered. Help  us  through  good  report  and  ill  to 
seek  the  purity  of  Thy  Church,  the  unity  of  the 
body  of  Christ. 

O  for  the  patience  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen. 


132 


THE   ALTAR   OF  INCENSE 

GOD,  who  hast  made  of  one  blood  all  the  That  they 
nations  of  mankind,  so  that  all  are  children  ^  mav 
and  members  one  of  another,  how  is  it  that  we 
are  so  slow  to  trace  the  family  likeness,  so  re- 
luctant  to  claim  our  common   kinship  ?      We 
pray  Thee,  O  our  God,  to  make  the  peoples  one. 

We  pray  for  the  Church  of  Christ  so  broken, 
scattered  and  dismembered,  that  none  would 
think  we  followed  all  one  Lord  and  held  a 
common  faith.  Purge  away  the  vanity,  intoler- 
ance, and  unforgiving  spirit  which  keep  us  far 
apart.  May  the  seamless  robe  not  be  utterly 
rent,  nor  the  body  any  longer  broken. 

We  pray  that  since  man's  need  is  one,  we  all 
may  find  the  one  way  to  Thee,  the  one  God. 
Forbid  that  in  our  highest  things  we  should  find 
fellowship  impossible.  May  the  spirit  of  Christ 
break  down  all  barriers  and  answer  the  desire 
of  all  nations. 

We  pray  for  a  union  so  deep  and  universal 
that  it  shall  gather  all  within  one  fold  :  those 
who  pray  and  those  who  cannot ;  those  whose 
faith  is  firm,  and  those  whose  doubt  is  slow  to 
clear.  May  we  never  be  content  with  aught 
that  excludes  another  from  the  fullness  of  Thy 
grace,  a  single  soul  from  the  welcome  of  Thy 
heart.  Amen. 


133 


THE  TEMPLE 


For  Social  A/TERCIFUL  Father,  to  whom  all  sons  of 
Awaken-  1V1  men  are  dear,  we  pray  for  all  that  sit  in 
darkness  and  in  the  shadow  of  death,  that  the 
Dayspring  from  on  high  may  visit  them  ;  for 
the  poor  and  oppressed,  for  those  who  dwell 
amid  ugliness  and  squalor,  far  from  loveliness 
and  purity,  and  for  whom  the  fire-gemmed 
heavens  shine  in  vain  ;  for  those  who  toil  beyond 
their  strength  and  beyond  Thine  ordinance, 
without  pleasure  in  the  work  of  their  hands, 
and  without  help  of  rest ;  for  those  who  sink 
back  to  the  beast  and  seek  to  drown  all  thought 
and  feeling,  and  for  all  who  are  trampled  under 
foot  by  men.  Raise  up  deliverance  for  the 
peoples. 

For  those  who  in  their  plenty  live  delicately, 

contemn    the    poor,   and    forget    God  ;    for  all 

people  whose  hearts  are  so  perished  within  them 

that  pity  has  departed.     Shew  them  Thy  ways. 

Amen. 


134 


THE   ALTAR   OF  INCENSE 

GOD,  the  Light  of  such  as  seek  Thee,  For  such 
grant  to  our  minds  that  illumination  with-  a£  ***  °ut 
out  which  we  walk  in  darkness  and  know  not 
whither  we  go.  Our  hearts,  like  orphaned 
children,  cry  out  for  Thee,  Thou  only  com- 
panion of  man's  soul.  May  we  feel  Thy  pre- 
sence about  us  and  be  allowed  to  love  Thee,  sinful 
though  we  be.  Condescend  to  walk  with  us 
in  the  devious  ways  of  life,  granting  us  on  earth 
the  friendship  of  Heaven,  shepherding  us  in 
danger,  piloting  us  through  the  storm. 

Remember  all  such  as  feel  no  need  of  Thee, 
who  seem  content  with  a  careless,  unexamined 
life,  whose  hearts  are  unvisited  by  desires  of 
better  things.  Leave  them  not  to  themselves, 
lest  they  go  down  to  death  and  destruction,  but 
startle  them  with  Thy  call,  awaken  them  with 
Thy  light,  brood  upon  their  spirits  until  they 
stir  to  greet  Thee. 

Be  especially  gracious  to  all  prodigal  souls 
who  would  turn  to  Thee  if  they  only  dared, 
but  fear  for  the  greatness  of  their  sin,  the 
despite  done  to  Thy  grace,  the  long  delay  of 
their  repentance.  Make  known  the  tenderness 
of  Thy  compassion,  reveal  the  grief  of  Thy 
heart,  disclose  the  long-suffering  of  Thy  love, 
that  they  may  rise  and  come  to  Thee.  Amen. 


135 


THE   TEMPLE 


For  the 
workers 
of  the 
world. 


GOD,  who  hatest  nothing  that  Thou  hast 
made,  carest  for  Thy  creation  more  than 
men  care  for  their  property,  and  lovest  every  soul 
of  man  more  than  a  mother  her  only  child  ; 
may  this  same  care  and  love  displace  man's 
inhumanity  and  selfishness,  until,  in  a  new  sense 
of  the  beauty  of  man's  body  and  the  eternal 
value  of  his  soul,  cruelty  and  neglect,  pain  and 
sorrow  pass  away. 

We  pray  for  the  coming  of  the  commonwealth 
where  those  who  toil  shall  be  honoured  and  re- 
warded, where  a  man's  worth  shall  be  reckoned 
higher  than  the  price  of  the  things  he  fashions 
with  hand  or  brain,  where  science  shall  serve,  not 
destruction  or  private  gain,  but  preservation  and 
the  common  good. 

We  remember  those  who  labour  continually 
under  the  danger  of  death,  that  others  may  be 
protected,  warmed,  and  comforted.  We  are 
conscious  of  the  sacrifice  that  others  are  called 
upon  to  make  on  our  behalf.  We  remember 
those  who  are  ready  to  lay  down  their  lives  for 
the  preservation  of  our  peace  and  the  provision 
of  our  needs.  May  we  so  live  that  such  sacri- 
fice shall  not  have  been  in  vain.  May  the 
whole  community  be  stirred  to  wonder  whether 
men  need  suffer  as  they  do. 

Give  inspiration  to  those  who  labour  at  the 
perfecting  of  protective  science,  and  who  seek 
the  redemption  of  the  workers.  Make  a  new 


THE   ALTAR   OF   INCENSE 

tie  of  blood  sacrifice  between  us  all.  Since 
Thou  didst,  to  our  confusion  and  amazement, 
declare  Thy  nature  most  of  all  in  the  Craftsman 
of  Nazareth,  so  once  again  may  redemption 
spring  from  the  ranks  of  those  who  toil. 

We  do  not  ask  to  pass  beyond  the  things  of 
sense  and  time,  but  to  see  in  them  Thy  pre- 
sence ;  in  the  crises  of  our  times,  Thy  judge- 
ments ;  in  the  rising  demand  for  righteousness, 
the  coming  of  Thy  kingdom.  Amen. 


137 


THE   TEMPLE 


For  our  INTERNAL  God,  who  countest  the  nations  as 
nation,  l-<  the  dust  of  the  balance,  and  takest  up  the 
isles  as  a  very  little  thing ;  who  puttest  down 
the  mighty  from  their  seat  and  hast  exalted  the 
humble  and  meek  ;  have  mercy  upon  this  nation, 
and  look  with  favour  upon  the  people  Thou 
hast  planted. 

Thou  hast  redeemed  us  from  the  past,  and 
led  us  through  the  solemn  centuries  to  the  vesti- 
bule of  destiny.  It  is  of  Thee  that  our  name 
is  feared  in  the  seven  seas.  It  is  Thou  that  hast 
throned  us  in  the  gateways  of  the  world.  Thou 
hast  moulded  our  speech  from  barbarous  tongues, 
till  it  rings  like  iron,  and  shines  like  cloth  of 
gold ;  so  that  it  gives  a  glorious  setting  to 
Thine  ancient  Word  and  preserves  the  Gospel 
in  simplicity  and  grace.  Thou  hast  mixed  our 
blood  from  uncorrupted  springs,  sobered  it  by 
sundering  seas,  and  purged  it  by  our  healthful 
land,  until  our  sons  may  dare  the  rigours  of  every 
clime  and  plant  our  name  and  spread  our  speech 
in  the  four  corners  of  the  earth. 

Yet  not  unto  us,  not  unto  us,  but  unto  Thy 
name  be  all  the  glory.  We  humble  ourselves 
to  remember  that  for  all  this  we  shall  be  brought 
into  judgement,  and  that  where  much  is  given, 
much  shall  be  expected  in  return.  Thy  pro- 
vidence knows  no  favourites,  naught  can  bend 
Thy  justice,  and  none  can  break  Thy  laws  that 
shall  not  themselves  be  broken.  No  past  or 

138 


THE   ALTAR   OF   INCENSE 

prestige,  not  all  our  riches  and  our  power  can 
save  us,  if  we  thwart  Thy  purposes  or  step  beyond 
Thy  perfect  will. 

Have  mercy  on  us  for  our  foolish  boast  and 
trusted  might,  and  leave  us  not  to  the  disaster 
of  the  abyss  or  the  shame  of  declining  power. 
We  repent  for  the  poison  we  have  poured  into 
our  blood,  for  the  despite  done  to  our  fair  land 
by  lust  of  gold  and  greed  of  possession  ;  for  the 
toll  taken  of  human  souls,  and  for  the  contempt 
shown  to  Christ  in  the  persons  of  little  children, 
the  needy,  the  sick,  and  those  in  prison.  We 
think  with  penitence  of  the  foulness  of  our 
cities,  the  shame  of  our  streets,  the  misery  of  the 
poor,  the  unconcern  of  the  rich.  We  recall  the 
treacheries  of  our  statesmanship,  the  aggression 
and  injustice  of  our  arms,  the  severity  and 
partiality  of  our  laws,  and  we  cry  : 

Spare  us,  good  Lord,  for  our  sins  are  sore. 
Preserve  us  of  Thy  mercy,  lest  our  destruction 
be  determined,  and  we  go  the  way  of  the  nations 
that  have  forgotten  God.  Amen. 


139 


THE   HOLY   PLACE 


Let  us  draw  near  with  a  true  heart, 
in  full  assurance  of  faith. 

— Hebrews  x.  22. 


THE   HOLY  PLACE 


A  LMIGHTY  God,  seeing  that  it  is  high  time  Introit. 
**    to  awake  out  of  sleep,  since  the  night  is  far 
spent  and  the  day  is  at  hand  :  help  us  to  put  off 
the  works  of  darkness  and  put  on  the  armour  of 
light. 

May  our  loins  be  girt  and  our  lamps  burning, 
and  ourselves  as  men  who  watch  for  the  coming 
of  their  Lord.  Amen. 


THE   TEMPLE 


Invoca*  f^\  GOD,  who  art  to  be  found  by  those  who 
tion.  V*/  truly  seek  Thee,  known  by  those  who  love, 
seen  by  those  whose  heart  is  pure  ;  Thy  Spirit 
possesses  all  things,  speaks  in  the  holy  dawn, 
calls  in  the  quiet  even,  broods  on  the  deep,  and 
dwells  in  the  heart  of  man. 

Forgive  us  if  we,  made  to  commune  with 
Thee,  whose  lives  were  ordered  to  walk  with 
Thee,  have  grown  insensible  to  Thy  presence, 
have  rested  in  the  things  that  appear,  grown 
careless  of  the  eternal  and  the  holy.  Send  now 
some  word  of  Thine  to  make  a  highway  to 
our  hearts,  and  Thyself  draw  near.  Shut  us  in 
gathered  here,  in  with  Thyself,  alone,  until  every 
heart  burns  and  each  spirit  moves  toward  Thee. 
May  the  Spirit  of  Jesus  come  upon  us  and  make 
us  at  home  with  Thee.  Amen. 


144 


THE   HOLY  PLACE 


THOU  who  transcendest  all  thought  ofForHu* 
Thee  as  the  heavens  are  higher  than  the 
earth  ;  we  acknowledge  that  we  cannot  search 
Thee  out  to  perfection,  but  we  thank  Thee  that 
Thou,  the  Invisible,  comest  to  us  in  the  things 
that  are  seen ;  that  Thy  exceeding  glory  is 
shadowed  in  the  flower  that  blooms  for  a  day, 
in  the  light  that  fades  ;  that  Thine  infinite  love 
has  been  incarnate  in  lowly  human  life  ;  and 
that  Thy  presence  surrounds  all  our  ignorance, 
Thy  holiness  our  sin,  Thy  peace  our  unrest. 

Give  us  that  lowly  heart  which  is  the  only 
temple  that  can  contain  the  infinite.  Save  us 
from  the  presumption  that  prides  itself  on  a 
knowledge  which  is  not  ours,  and  from  the 
hypocrisy  and  carelessness  which  professes  an 
ignorance  which  Thy  manifestation  has  made  for 
ever  impossible.  Save  us  from  calling  ourselves 
by  a  name  that  Thou  alone  canst  wear,  and  from 
despising  the  image  of  Thyself  Thou  hast  formed 
us  to  bear,  and  grant  that  knowledge  of  Thee 
revealed  in  Jesus  Christ  which  is  our  eternal 
life.  Amen. 


THE  TEMPLE 


For  the  T5  REATHE  on  us,  breath  of  God  ;  not  as  the 
Holy  •*-*  mighty  rushing  wind,  lest  the  dimly  burning 
Spirit*  flax  i^  quenched ;  but  with  the  quiet  breath 
that  shall  fan  to  flame  our  smouldering  faith. 
Inward  Presence  of  our  God,  we  cannot  do 
without  Thee  !  Unless  first  we  hear  the  gentle 
whisper  of  Thy  voice,  the  majesty  of  fire  and 
storm,  the  glories  of  earth  and  heaven  will  pass 
in  meaningless  pageantry  before  us.  The  sacred 
page  of  the  past  and  the  slowly-traced  bible  of 
to-day  will  alike  be  closed  to  us.  As  we  address 
ourselves  to  seek  our  God,  light  Thou  our  hearts 
with  His  presence.  As  we  turn  to  think  of 
Jesus,  make  our  hearts  to  burn  with  love.  Spirit 
of  the  Living  God,  Spirit  of  Jesus,  Spirit  who 
choosest  man's  mind  for  Thy  dwelling  ;  make 
Thyself  known  to  us  now.  Amen. 


THE   HOLY   PLACE 


A/T OST  Holy  Father  may  the  hush  of  Thy  For  Illu* 
-*-'-*•      presence  move  us  now  to  adoration,  and  min*tion. 
may   all   voices  be   stilled   that  Thine  may  be 
heard.     Quiet  our  minds  of  their  fretting,  hide 
from  us  the  false  glamour  of  things,  and  may  the 
truth  dawn  upon  all  our  souls.     We  bring  to 
Thee  the  unsatisfied  desire  of  our  seeking  hearts, 
for  naught  save  Thyself  can  give  us  rest. 

Shew  to  us  the  great  secret  of  Thyself,  give 
us  some  image  of  Thee  in  our  thought  that  we 
may  know  who  and  what  Thou  art.  We  want 
to  stand  before  the  awful  purity  of  Thy  throne, 
yea,  even  though  it  destroy  us ;  we  would  see 
Thy  face  though  we  may  never  after  see  aught 
else.  We  want  to  know  the  measure  of  Thy 
love,  even  though  it  break  our  hearts.  We  want 
to  see  the  hidden  purposes  of  Thy  will,  even 
though  the  vision  change  our  little  plans  and  flood 
our  lives  beyond  our  power  to  hold. 

We  want  not  only  to  see  Thee  thus  in  the 
mystic  hour  of  revelation,  but  in  broadening 
purposes  in  the  history  of  our  time  ;  not  only 
in(the  Shekinah  of  the  Holy  Place,  but  at  work 
in  our  common  days,  inhabiting  our  narrow 
hearts. 

Incarnate  Thyself,  O  Invisible,  that  these  eyes 
may  be  for  ever  satisfied  ;  may  Thy  word  be- 
come flesh  and  the  unutterable  take  voice.  O 
come,  O  come,  Immanuel.  Amen. 


THE  TEMPLE 


Lift  up       T  OVE  Divine,  Love  lowly  hearted,  our  city's 

Y°u*  **     gates  stand  widely  open  to  Thy  welcome. 

ye\ates.    Without  Thee  the  people  is  uncrowned,  tumult 

and  rebellion  break  forth,  truth  is  perished  in  the 

streets,  and  justice  fallen  at  our  gates.     Come 

and  establish  Thy  kingdom  in  our  midst,  sending 

peace  on  the  earth,  peace  in  the  hearts  of  men. 

Apart  from  Thee  all  temples  stand  desolate, 
unblessed  by  sacrifice,  unsanctified  by  altar  fires, 
unhallowed  by  thankful  song.  Though  they 
have  been  desecrated  by  unholy  traffic,  polluted  by 
sin,  deserted  for  an  easier  worship  of  the  world, 
come  Thou,  and  by  Thy  presence  cleanse,  in- 
habit, and  restore. 

God  unimaginable,  God  most  near,  God  of 
the  tender  Jesus,  God  of  His  bitter  cross ;  hear 
us,  Thy  little  ones,  as  we  cry  "  HOSANNA  in 
the  highest  ;  blessed  is  He  that  cometh  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord."  Lift  up  your  heads,  O  ye 
gates,  and  be  ye  lifted  up  ye  everlasting  doors, 
and  the  King  of  glory  shall  come  in.  Amen. 


THE   HOLY   PLACE 


T  IKE  summer  seas  that  lave  with  silent  tides  a  Grace  for 
**     lonely  shore,  like  whispering  winds  that  stir  grace* 
the  tops  of  forest  trees,  like  a  still  small  voice  that 
calls  us  in  the  watches  of  the  night,  like  a  child's 
hand  that  feels  about  a  fast-closed  door  ;  gentle, 
unnoticed,  and  oft  in  vain  ;  so  is  Thy  coming 
unto  us,  O  God. 

Like  ships  storm-driven  into  port,  like 
starving  souls  that  seek  the  bread  they  once 
despised,  like  wanderers  begging  refuge  from 
the  whelming  night,  like  prodigals  that  seek  the 
father's  home  when  all  is  spent ;  yet  welcomed 
at  the  open  door,  arms  outstretched  and  kisses 
for  our  shame  ;  so  is  our  coming  unto  Thee,  O 
God. 

Like  flowers  uplifted  to  the  sun,  like  trees  that 
bend  before  the  storm,  like  sleeping  seas  that 
mirror  cloudless  skies,  like  a  harp  to  the  hand, 
like  an  echo  to  a  cry,  like  a  song  to  the  heart ; 
for  all  our  stubbornness,  our  failure  and  our  sin  ; 
so  would  we  have  been  to  Thee,  O  God. 
Amen. 


149 


THE   TEMPLE 


Now  is      CTERNAL  God,  before  whose  eyes  the  ages 

the  ac-        J-<  pasS)  wno  knowest  all  the  changing  thoughts 

time          °^  man  5    ^P  us  to  remember  that  Thou  art 

throned  above  all  time  and  bringest  every  thought 

into  captivity  unto  Thyself. 

May  we  not  turn  back  to  bygone  centuries  to 
hear  Thy  voice,  as  if  Thou  spakest  no  longer  to 
us  now.  May  we  not  imagine  that  the  judgement 
is  postponed  to  some  far-off  future  day.  Give 
us  to  know  that  upon  the  slopes  of  Sinai  still 
our  feet  may  stand,  that  even  now  the  books 
are  opened,  and  the  thrones  are  set. 

Enable  us  to  remember  that  all  souls  are  Thine, 
that  their  innermost  secrets  are  naked  and  open 
to  Thee,  and  that  none  can  ever  fall  beyond  Thy 
reach  or  wander  outside  Thy  concern. 

So  help  us  all  in  this  hour  to  realize  the  presence 
of  eternity,  that  we  trifle  not  our  time  away  ; 
the  nearness  of  Thine  awful  judgement,  lest  we 
forget  what  manner  of  men  we  are  ;  the  long- 
suffering  of  Thy  love,  lest  at  thought  of  Thee 
we  grow  afraid.  Amen. 


150 


THE   HOLY   PLACE 


/^\  GOD,  who  so  fillest  all  things  that  they 
^-^  only  thinly  veil  Thy  presence  ;  we  adore  cite, 

Thee  in  the  beauty  of  the  world,  in  the  good-  °* 

c    i  ,  J  i     •       £T-I  opera, 

ness    or    human    hearts   and    in     1  hy    thought 

within  the  mind.  We  praise  Thee  for  the 
channels  through  which  Thy  grace  can  come  to 
us ;  sickness  and  health,  joy  and  pain,  freedom 
and  necessity,  sunshine  and  rain,  life  and  death. 

We  thank  Thee  for  all  the  gentle  and  healing 
ministries  of  life  ;  the  gladness  of  the  morning, 
the  freedom  of  the  wind,  the  music  of  the  rain, 
the  joy  of  the  sunshine  and  the  deep  calm  of  the 
night ;  for  trees,  and  flowers,  and  clouds,  and 
skies  ;  for  the  tender  ministries  of  human  love, 
the  unselfishness  of  parents,  the  love  that  binds 
man  and  woman,  the  confidence  of  little  children  ; 
for  the  patience  of  teachers  and  the  encourage- 
ment of  friends. 

We  bless  Thee  for  the  stirring  ministry  of  the 
past,  for  the  story  of  noble  deeds,  the  memory  of 
holy  men,  the  printed  book,  the  painter's  art,  the 
poet's  craft ;  most  of  all  for  the  ministry  of  the 
Son  of  Man,  who  taught  us  the  eternal  beauty 
of  earthly  things,  who  by  His  life  set  us  free 
from  fear,  and  by  His  death  won  us  from  our 
sins  to  Thee  ;  for  His  cradle,  His  cross,  and  His 
crown. 

May  His  Spirit  live  within  us,  conquer  all  the 
selfishness  of  man,  and  take  away  the  sin  of  the 
world.  Amen. 


THE  TEMPLE 


More         S~\  GOD  above  all,  yet  in  all  ;  holy  beyond 
in^Thee     ^*>^    a^  imaginat^on>  7et  friend  of  sinners  ;  who 
I  find.        inhabitest  the  realms  of  unfading  light,  yet  leadest 
us  through    the  shadows  of  mortal  life  ;    how 
solemn  and  uplifting  it  is  even  to  think  upon 
Thee.     Like  sight  of  sea  to  wearied  eyes,  like  a 
walled-in  garden  to  the  troubled  mind,  like  home 
to  wanderer,  like  a  strong  tower  to  a  soul  pur- 
sued ;  so  to  us  is  the  sound  of  Thy  name. 

But  greater  still  to  feel  Thee  in  our  heart  ; 
like  a  river  glorious,  cleansing,  healing,  bringing 
life  ;  like  a  song  victorious,  comforting  our  sad- 
ness, banishing  our  care  ;  like  a  voice  calling  us 
to  battle,  urging  us  beyond  ourselves. 

But  greater  far  to  know  Thee  as  our  Father, 
as  dear  as  Thou  art  near  ;  and  ourselves  begotten 
of  Thy  love,  made  in  Thy  image,  cared  for 
through  all  our  days,  never  beyond  Thy  sight, 
never  out  of  Thy  thought. 

To  think  of  Thee  is  rest ;  to  know  Thee  is 
eternal  life  ;  to  see  Thee  is  the  end  of  all  desire  ; 
to  serve  Thee  is  perfect  freedom  and  everlasting 
joy.  Amen. 


152 


THE   HOLY   PLACE 


OGOD,  we  thank  Thee  for  the  world  in  From 
which  Thou  hast  placed  us,  for  the  uni- 
verse  whose  vastness  is  revealed  in  the  blue 
depths  of  the  sky,  whose  immensities  are  lit  by 
shining  stars  beyond  the  strength  of  mind  to 
follow.  We  thank  Thee  for  every  sacrament  of 
beauty  ;  for  the  sweetness  of  flowers,  the  solem- 
nity of  the  stars,  the  sound  of  streams  and  swell- 
ing seas  ;  for  far-stretching  lands  and  mighty 
mountains  which  rest  and  satisfy  the  soul,  the 
purity  of  dawn  which  calls  to  holy  dedication, 
the  peace  of  evening  which  speaks  of  everlasting 
rest.  May  we  not  fear  to  make  this  world  for 
a  little  while  our  home,  since  it  is  Thy  creation 
and  we  ourselves  are  part  of  it.  Help  us  humbly 
to  learn  its  laws  and  trust  its  mighty  powers. 

We  thank  Thee  for  the  world  within,  deeper 
than  we  dare  to  look,  higher  than  we  care  to 
climb  ;  for  the  great  kingdom  of  the  mind  and 
the  silent  spaces  of  the  soul.  Help  us  not  to 
be  afraid  of  ourselves,  since  we  were  made  in 
Thy  image,  loved  by  Thee  before  the  worlds 
began,  and  fashioned  for  Thy  eternal  habitation. 
May  we  be  brave  enough  to  bear  the  truth, 
strong  enough  to  live  in  the  light,  glad  to  yield 
ourselves  to  Thee. 

We  thank  Thee  for  that  world  brighter  and 
better  than  all,  opened  for  us  in  the  broken 
heart  of  the  Saviour  ;  for  the  universe  of  love  and 
purity  in  Him,  for  the  golden  sunshine  of  His 

153 


THE  TEMPLE 


smile,  the  tender  grace  of  His  forgiveness,  the 
red  renewing  rain  and  crimson  flood  of  His  great 
sacrifice.  May  we  not  shrink  from  its  search- 
ing and  surpassing  glory,  nor,  when  this  world 
fades  away,  fear  to  commit  ourselves  to  that 
world  which  shall  be  our  everlasting  home. 
Amen. 


154 


THE   HOLY   PLACE 


THOU  who  hast  visited  us  with  the  Day-  The  Light 
spring  from  on  high,  who  hast  made  light  °*  the 
to  shine  in   the  darkness,  we  praise  Thy  holy  ™ 
name  and  proclaim  Thy  wonderful  goodness. 

We  bless  Thee  for  the  dawning  of  the  light 
in  far-off  ages  so  soon  as  human  eyes  could  bear 
its  rays.  We  remember  those  who  bore  aloft 
the  torch  of  truth  when  all  was  false  and  full  of 
shame ;  those  far-sighted  souls  who  from  the 
mountain  tops  of  vision  heralded  the  coming 
day ;  those  who  laboured  in  the  darkened 
valleys  to  lift  men's  eyes  to  the  hills. 

We  thank  Thee  that  in  the  fullness  of  the 
times  Thou  didst  gather  Thy  light  into  life,  so 
that  even  simple  folk  could  see  ;  for  Jesus  the 
Star  of  the  morning  and  the  Light  of  the  world. 

We  commemorate  His  holy  nativity,  His  lowly 
toil,  His  lonely  way  ;  the  gracious  words  of  His 
lips,  the  deep  compassion  of  His  heart,  His  friend- 
ship for  the  fallen,  His  love  for  the  outcast ;  the 
crown  of  thorns,  the  cruel  cross,  the  open  shame. 
And  we  rejoice  to  know  as  He  was  here  on 
earth,  so  Thou  art  eternally.  Thou  dost  not 
abhor  our  flesh,  nor  shrink  from  our  earthly  toil. 
Thou  rememberest  our  frailty,  bearest  with  our 
sin,  and  tastest  even  our  bitter  cup  of  death. 

And  now  we  rejoice  for  the  light  that  shines 

about   our   daily    path  from  the  cradle   to  the 

grave,  and  for  the  light  that  illumines  its  circuit 

beyond  these  spheres  from  our  conception  in  Thy 

155 


THE  TEMPLE 


mind  to  the  day  when  we  wake  in  Thy  image  ; 
for  the  breathing  of  Thy  spirit  into  ours  till  we 
see  Thee  face  to  face  :  in  God  ;  from  God ;  to 
God  at  last. 

Hallelujah. 
Amen. 


156 


THE   HOLY  PLACE 


OTHOU  that  turnest  the  shadow  of  death  Easter 
into  the  morning,  on  this  day  of  days  our  morning, 
hearts  exult  with  heavenly  joy.     All  things  con- 
spire to  make  us  sure  of  Thee  :    the  gracious 
sunshine,  the  stir  of  springtime,  the   morning 
rapture  of  the  birds  ;  but  greater  far,  a  secret 
thrill  runs  through  the  air  from  far-off  days. 

Easter  day  breaks  !  Christ  rises  !  Mercy 
every  way  is  infinite. 

The  clouds  are  vanished  from  the  sky,  doubts 
are  driven  from  the  mind,  Thou  hast  conquered 
our  last  enemy,  and  our  tongues  are  filled  with 
singing.  Pain  has  been  our  portion  here,  but 
now  we  know  that  in  all  pain  there  lies  the 
promise  of  redemption.  Thou  dost  plan  our 
lives  to  cross  the  valley  of  Humiliation,  to  climb 
the  hill  Difficulty,  and  then  at  last  descend  where 
waits  the  shadow  feared  by  man.  But  now  we 
know  it  is  a  shadow  only.  The  grim-barred 
gates  of  death  swing  back,  and  the  glory  from 
an  endless  world  shines  through,  beyond  the 
mind's  imagining,  beyond  our  hearts'  desire. 
Our  Jesus  now  is  crowned  with  glory,  clothed 
in  victory,  and  vested  with  the  keys  of  death 
and  hell. 

Praise  be  unto  Thee,  O  Lord  most  high. 
Amen. 


157 


THE  TEMPLE 


The  T7ATHER    of  life,   and   God   of  the   living, 

Octave  of  A  Fountain  of  our  being  and  Light  of  all  our 
taster*  ^ay .  we  tjlanjc  Thee  for  that  knowledge  of 
Thyself  which  lights  our  life  with  eternal  splen- 
dour, for  that  giving  of  Thyself  which  has  made 
us  partakers  of  Thy  divine  nature.  We  bless 
Thee  for  everything  around  us  which  ministers 
Thee  to  our  minds  ;  for  the  greatness  and  glory 
of  nature,  for  the  history  of  our  race,  and  the 
lives  of  noble  men  ;  for  the  thoughts  of  Thee 
expressed  in  human  words,  in  the  art  of  painters 
and  musicians,  in  the  work  of  builders  and  crafts- 
men. We  bless  Thee  for  the  constant  memories 
of  what  we  are  that  rise  within  ourselves  ;  for  the 
pressure  of  duty,  the  hush  of  solemn  thoughts, 
for  moments  of  insight  when  the  veil  on  the 
face  of  all  things  falls  away,  for  hours  of  high 
resolve  when  life  is  quickened  within,  for  seasons 
of  communion  when,  earth  and  sense  forgotten, 
heaven  holds  our  silent  spirits  raptured  and 
aflame. 

We  have  learned  to  praise  Thee  for  the  darker 
days  when  we  had  to  walk  by  faith,  for  weary 
hours  that  strengthened  patience  and  endeavour, 
for  moments  of  gloom  and  times  of  depression 
which  taught  us  to  trust,  not  to  changing  tides 
of  feeling,  but  to  Thee  who  changest  not.  And 
now  since  Christ  has  won  His  throne  by  His 
cross  of  shame,  risen  from  His  tomb  to  reign  for 
ever  in  the  hearts  of  men,  we  know  that  nothing 

158 


THE   HOLY   PLACE 


can  ever  separate  us  from  Thee ;  that  in  all 
conflicts  we  may  be  more  than  conquerors  ;  that 
all  dark  and  hostile  things  shall  be  transformed 
and  work  for  good  to  those  who  know  the 
secret  of  Thy  love. 

Glory  be  to  Thee,  O  Lord. 
Amen. 


159 


THE  TEMPLE 


Watch-          \  GOD,  there  are  sounds  on  the  earth  and 


mtn*  r  ~*  signs  in  the  heaven  that  quicken  all  hearts 
thenight?  Wl^  expectation  :  nations  that  long  have  sat 
in  darkness  and  the  shadow  of  death,  turning  to 
the  light  ;  peoples  that  long  have  worn  the  yoke 
of  tyranny  rising  to  shake  themselves  free  ; 
murmurs  of  the  masses  too  long  content  with 
slavery  ;  thoughts  that  threaten  the  order  of  all 
things  and  predict  the  shaking  of  the  foundations 
of  the  world.  We  listen  to  hear  if  these  are 
the  sounds  of  Thy  chariot  wheels  ;  we  lift  our 
heads  to  see  if  the  dawn  is  reddening  in  the  sky. 
We  dare  to  watch  for  Thy  fuller  coming  to 
us.  For  the  complete  manifestation  of  Thyself, 
for  the  emancipation  of  humanity  from  fear,  sin, 
doubt  and  despair. 

We  dare  to  pray  that  Thou  shouldest  make 
Thy  entrance  through  our  hearts.  Even  so, 
Lord  Jesus  ;  come  quickly.  Amen. 


1 60 


THE   HOLY   PLACE 


INTERNAL  and  Gracious  Father,  whose  pres-  The 
**  ence  comforteth  like  sunshine  after  rain  ;  Sacre<* 
we  thank  Thee  for  Thyself  and  for  all  Thy 
revelation  to  us.  Our  hearts  are  burdened  with 
thanksgiving  at  the  thought  of  all  Thy  mercies  ; 
for  all  the  blessings  of  this  mortal  life,  for  health, 
for  reason,  for  learning  and  for  love  ;  but  far 
beyond  all  thought  and  thankfulness,  for  Thy 
great  redemption.  It  was  no  painless  travail 
that  brought  us  to  the  birth,  it  has  been  no 
common  patience  that  has  borne  with  us  all  this 
while  ;  long-suffering  love,  and  the  breaking  of 
the  eternal  heart  alone  could  reconcile  us  to  the 
life  to  which  Thou  hast  ordained  us.  We  have 
seen  the  Son  of  Man  sharing  our  sickness  and 
shrinking  not  from  our  shame,  we  have  beheld 
the  Lamb  of  God  bearing  the  sins  of  the  world, 
we  have  mourned  at  the  mysterious  passion  and 
stood  astonished  at  the  cross  of  Jesus  Christ ; 
and  behind  all  we  have  had  the  vision  of  an 
altar-throne  and  one  thereon  slain  from  the 
foundation  of  the  world  ;  heard  a  voice  calling 
us  that  was  full  of  tears ;  seen  beyond  the  veil 
that  was  rent,  the  agony  of  God. 

O  for  a  thousand  tongues  to  sing  the  love  that 
has  redeemed  us.  O  for  a  thousand  lives  that 
we  might  yield  them  all  to  Thee.  Amen. 


161 


THE  TEMPLE 


All  shall  S~\  FATHER  of  mankind,  whose  mind  em- 
be  well.  V^y  braces  our  multitudinous  humanity,  whose 
heart  is  wide  to  harbour  all  our  race,  who  knowest 
all  as  a  shepherd  knows  his  sheep  ;  let  the  know- 
ledge of  Thyself  enter  every  mind,  bringing  free- 
dom, forgiveness  and  faith  to  all  the  sons  of  men. 
Though  the  ages  stretch  beyond  our  grasp  and 
burden  our  imagination,  Thou  boldest  them  all 
in  Thy  mind  as  a  moment.  Though  the  worlds 
are  scattered  like  dust  through  endless  space, 
Thou  bringest  out  their  host  by  number  and 
callest  them  all  by  name.  Though  life  puts  forth 
her  myriad  forms  and  wastes  herself  on  vain 
designs,  Thou  boldest  all  in  the  hollow  of  Thy 
hand,  so  that  not  one  falls  forgotten  or  perishes 
purposeless  in  pain.  Though  the  march  of  man 
reaches  from  the  dust  to  the  dawn,  from  the  slime 
to  the  soul,  from  the  abyss  to  the  throne,  and 
though  the  generations  rise  and  pass  away,  Thou 
leadest  everyone  ;  from  the  womb  to  the  tomb, 
from  the  mother's  breast  to  the  breast  of  God  ; 
guiding  little  feet,  guarding  youth's  glad  steps, 
giving  strength  to  the  weary,  and  gathering  all 
souls  to  Thyself  at  the  last. 

Though  we  wrest  ourselves  from  Thy  will, 
lose  ourselves  in  our  selfishness,  run  riot  in  re- 
bellion, and  make  sin  our  shame  ;  though  we 
make  seven  hells  for  our  souls,  Thou  still  dost 
hold  us  and  canst  draw  us  back  to  Thee. 

Therefore  we  bless  Thee  that  Thou  didst  give 
162 


THE    HOLY   PLACE 


us  being  ;  praise  Thee  Thou  didst  form  us  of 
Thy  substance  ;  thank  Thee  thou  dost  destine 
us  to  know  Thy  love,  share  Thy  name,  and  live 
for  evermore  in  the  blessedness  of  Thy  being 
and  the  glory  of  Thy  Godhead.  Amen. 


163 


THE   TEMPLE 


Our  rea-     (^\  FATHER  Eternal,  we  thank  Thee  for  the 

sonable      V^    new  anc[  livjng  way   into  Thy  presence 

ervice.      macje  fOr  us  in  Christ ;  the  way  of  trust,  sincerity 

and  sacrifice.     Beneath  His  cross  we  would  take 

our  stand,  in  communion  with  His  Spirit  would 

we  pray,  in  fellowship  with  the  whole  Church 

of  Christ  we  would  seek  to  know  Thy  mind 

and  will. 

We  desire  to  know  all  the  fullness  of  Christ, 
to  appropriate  His  unsearchable  riches,  to  feed 
on  His  humanity  whereby  Thou  hast  become  to 
us  the  bread  of  our  inmost  souls  and  the  wine  of 
life,  to  become  partakers  of  Thy  nature,  share 
Thy  glory  and  become  one  with  Thee  through 
Him. 

Give  unto  us  fellowship  with  His  sufferings 
and  insight  into  the  mystery  of  His  cross,  so  that 
we  may  be  indeed  crucified  with  Him,  be  raised 
to  newness  of  life,  and  be  hidden  with  Christ  in 
Thee. 

We  desire  to  make  thankful  offering  of  our- 
selves as  members  of  the  body  of  Christ ;  in  union 
with  all  the  members  may  we  obey  our  unseen 
Head,  so  that  the  Body  may  be  undivided,  and 
Thy  love,  and  healing  power,  and  very  Self  may 
be  incarnate  on  the  earth  in  one  Holy  Universal 
Church.  Amen. 


164 


THE   HOLY   PLACE 


INTERNAL  God,  who  art  above  all  change  and  To  live 
*^    darkness,  whose  will  begat  us,  and  whose  all  more 
present   love    doth    enfold   and   continually  re- 
deem  us,  Holy  Guest  who  indwellest,  and  dost 
comfort  us  ;  we  have  gathered  to  worship  Thee, 
and  in  communion  with  Thee  to  find  ourselves 
raised  to  the  Light  of  our  life,  and  the  Heaven 
of  our  desires. 

Pour  upon  our  consciousness  the  sense  of 
Thy  wonderful  nearness  to  us.  Reveal  to  our 
weakness  and  distress  the  power  and  the  grace 
that  are  more  than  sufficient  for  us.  May  we 
see  what  we  are,  Thy  Spirit-born  children  linked 
by  nature,  love  and  choice  to  Thy  mighty  being  ; 
and  may  the  vision  make  all  fears  to  fade,  and  a 
Divine  strength  to  pulse  within. 

Enable  us  to  carry  out  from  this  place  the  peace 
and  strength  that  here  we  gain,  to  take  into  our 
homes  a  kinder  spirit,  a  new  thoughtfulness  ;  that 
we  may  brighten  sadness,  heal  the  sick,  and  make 
happiness  to  abound.  May  we  take  into  our 
daily  tasks  and  life  of  labour,  a  sense  of  righteous- 
ness that  shall  be  as  salt  to  every  evil  and  corrupt- 
ing influence. 

Because  we  have  walked  here  awhile  with 
Thee,  may  we  be  able  to  walk  more  patiently 
with  man.  Send  us  forth  with  love  to  the  fallen, 
hope  for  the  despairing,  strength  to  impart  to  the 
weak  and  wayward  ;  and  carry  on  through  us 
the  work  Thou  didst  commence  in  Thy  Son 
our  Brother  Man  and  Saviour  God.  Amen. 


The  Lord  bless  thee  and  keep  thee  : 

The  Lord  make  His  face  to  shine  upon  thee  : 

The  Lord  lift  up  His  countenance  upon  thee^ 

and  give  thee  peace. 

Numbers,  vi.  24-26. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

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